Cerebrospinal fluid levels ofneurospecific markers in adult patients with bacterial meningitis

Abstract

At present, the great attention is given to the neurospecific markers as their elevated level in the cerebrospinal fluid corresponds to the degree of destruction of relevant CNS cells. Therefore, actual direction of the studies of the pathogenesis and diagnosis of CNS diseases is to determine levels of neurospecific markers in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic role of NSE, S-100 protein, GFAP and MBP levels in CSF of patients with acute bacterial meningitis. S-100 protein, NSE, GFAP and MBP levels in CSF of patients with acute pneumococcal and meningococcal meningitis were determined during admission and after 10-12 days of treatment. Patients were divided into groups depending on the etiology and severity of the disease. 60 cases of acute bacterial meningitis, as a study group, and 12 cases with acute respiratory infection and meningism, as a control group, were analyzed. It is shown that CSF levels of NSE, S-100 protein, GFAP and MBP on the first day of admission were significantly increased (P<0,05), depending on the severity of the disease. The highest levels of neurospecific markers have been identified in non-survivors (P<0,001). The concentration changes of CSF neurospecific markers are found to be helpful as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in acute bacterial meningitis.