title: Discriminatory potential of C-reactive protein, cytokines, and fecal markers in infectious gastroenteritis in adults.
abstract: This study evaluates potential markers in blood and stools for their ability to distinguish bacterial from viral gastroenteritis. A total of 108 patients were prospectively recruited, of which 27 showed bacterial, 30 viral, and 51 no detectable pathogen, respectively. Cytokines, C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cells as well as the 2 fecal markers lactoferrin and calprotectin were determined. Statistics comprised Kruskal-Wallis test and U test in addition to an assessment of receiver operating characteristic. Interferon γ (IFNγ) levels were significantly increased in the viral group compared to the bacterial and nonspecific group. For the bacterial group, both fecal markers lactoferrin and calprotectin as well as CRP were significantly higher in comparison to the other 2 groups. To differentiate between bacterial and viral gastroenteritis, CRP, serum IFNγ, and the fecal proteins lactoferrin and calprotectin may be useful. A corresponding algorithm should be evaluated prospectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine II, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weh
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Antoni
authors.forename: Christel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weiß
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Findeisen
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ebert
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Böcker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000032:analysis; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D007781:Lactoferrin
keywords: Bacterial; Gastroenteritis; Prognostic factor; Virus