title: Prevalence of viral infection markers by polymerase chain reaction amplification and interferon-alpha measurements among patients undergoing lumbar puncture in an emergency department.
abstract: Aseptic meningitis is a frequent diagnosis in emergency departments. Nevertheless, viral investigations are not carried out currently and the viral etiology in adult population has not been studied extensively. We conducted a prospective study including all consecutive patients undergoing lumbar puncture during a 15 months period in an adult emergency department. Bloody and purulent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were excluded. The main tests undertaken were: CSF genomic amplification by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for neurotropic viruses and serum and CSF interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) measurements. Among 194 patients included, 45 had and 149 did not have aseptic meningitis. Of 45 patients with aseptic meningitis, 10 had alternative non-virological final diagnosis, and 35/45 were presumed to have neurological disorders of viral origin. Patients (27/35) completed virological analysis: 21/27 (78%) had either positive viral PCR (enterovirus: 8 patients, Varicella zoster virus (VZV): 5, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV): 2, herpes simplex virus (HSV): 1, human herpes virus 6: 1) or only raised serum or CSF IFN-alpha (4 patients). Overall, 59% of patients with a positive viral PCR had either CSF or serum raised IFN-alpha. Twentyone patients without meningitis had either positive viral PCR (enterovirus: 3 patients) or only high serum IFN-alpha level (18 patients). In the setting of aseptic meningitis diagnosed in an adult emergency department, viruses are the most common agents encountered, with enterovirus and VZV as the two main etiological agents. Current CSF viral genome amplification and IFN-alpha measurement are informative and could be useful to confirm the viral origin of various neurological disorders, although the sensitivity and specificity of IFN-alpha measurement for the diagnosis of viral infection need further confirmation.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Accueil des Urgences, CHU Pitié-Salpêtrière, AP-HP, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France. pierre.hausfater@psl.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hausfater
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fillet
authors.forename: Flore
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rozenberg
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arthaud
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trystram
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Huraux
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lebon
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Riou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D001483:Base Sequence; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000235:genetics; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008297:Male; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008587:Meningitis, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013129:Spinal Puncture
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D016898:Interferon-alpha