C reactive protein for differentiating bacterial from aseptic meningitis in Thai patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of serum CRP level differentiating between bacterial and aseptic meningitis in Thai patients.


METHODS
The authors measured the serum CRP level in patients who were diagnosed clinically as bacterial and aseptic meningitis.


RESULTS
The authors evaluated 32 subjects, 12 with bacterial meningitis (all males) and 20 with aseptic meningitis (13 males, 7 females). The mean serum CRP level in the bacterial meningitis and aseptic meningitis group was 209.25 +/- 105.34 (range, 65 to 420) and 67.05 +/- 40.81 (range, 10 to 169) mg/L, respectively (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Serum CRP can help differentiate between bacterial and aseptic meningitis.
Department of Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Suchat
S
Sirijaichingkul
Somsak
S
Tiamkao
Kittisak
K
Sawanyawisuth
Verajit
V
Chotmongkol
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests; D008297:Male; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013785:Thailand; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002097:C-Reactive Protein