title: Meta-analysis identifies tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta as diagnostic biomarkers for bacterial and aseptic meningitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Meningitis is a complex and severe acute infectious disease of the central nervous system and is caused mainly by bacteria and viruses. However, the distinction between aseptic and bacterial meningitis can be difficult for clinicians because the symptoms and the results of laboratory assays are often similar and overlapping, particularly when the use of antibiotics is administered prior to examining the cerebrospinal fluid.
  
  
  METHODS
  We determined the accuracy of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) for the differential diagnosis between bacterial and aseptic meningitis. A comprehensive search was performed for papers published from January 1989 to July 2013. Prospective or retrospective studies and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) TNF-α and/or IL-1β cytokine concentrations for differential diagnosis distinguishing bacterial from aseptic meningitis were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistical analysis was performed using Revman and Meta-Disc. This systematic review showed that TNF-α has a sensitivity of 80.5%, specificity of 94.9%, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of 71.7, and area under the curve (AUC) = 0.942; IL-1β showed a sensitivity of 86.0%, specificity of 92.3%, DOR of 53.5, and AUC = 0.975.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therefore, TNF-α and IL-1β are useful markers for the prediction of the bacterial meningitis and levels may represent an accurate method that is useful for the differentiation between bacterial and aseptic meningitis.
authors.forename: Ana Paula Ronzani
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Panato
authors.forename: Luiza Trajano
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Tomasi
authors.forename: Carla Sasso
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Madeira
authors.forename: Lutiana Roque
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Simoes
authors.forename: Lidia Rosi
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Barichello
authors.affiliation: Rua Cruz e Souza, 510, Bairro Pio Correa- CEP 88811-550, Criciúma-SC- Brazil. mir@unesc.net.
authors.forename: Maria Ines
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Rosa
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha