Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
samples were obtained from 30 cases
with meningitis and 10 neurologically
free controls. Twenty patients were
diagnosed bacteriologically as: 10
aseptic and 10 septic meningitis. CSF
samples were analysed for tumour
necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a), fatty
acids (FA) (palmitic, stearic and
palmitoleic acids), transferrin and
albumin. The results showed that
there were significant increases
(P<0.0001) in the studied parameters
in septic meningitis compared to
control and aseptic meningitis.
Palmitoleic fatty acid was only
detected in septic meningitis.
Therefore, determination of TNFa,
fatty acids, albumin and transferrin
in CSF may be a sensitive and rapid
indicator of septic meningitis
compared to microscopy and culture.
They may also have a prognostic
value as CSF albumin and transferrin
can indicate impairment of blood
brain barrier permeability and palmitic
and stearic acids may be related to
neurological disorders. |
