ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: In evaluation of patients, laboratory results are crucial in determination of a treatment plan. Obtaining venous blood from infants and children is a difficult procedure. Substitution of a capillary blood sample for a venous blood sample has been suggested. However, there are few studies showing mutual correlation between C-reactive protein (CRP) results in capillary and venous blood. This study was designed to determine whether the result of the capillary sample is the same as the result of the venous blood sample. METHODS: After informed consent, a pair of venous and fingertip capillary blood samples were simultaneously collected from 100 children. The LC-178CRPTM was used for analysis of capillary blood and the Hitachi 7180 automatic hematology analyzer was used for analysis of venous blood. We compared CRP of both venous and capillary blood samples. Results were analyzed by crosstabulation analysis, simple regression analysis and the Bland Altman Plot method. RESULTS: A close correlation (90.63%) was observed between capillary and venous blood analyzed by crosstabulation analysis. CRP results were similar between the two groups and showed a high coefficient correlation (beta=1.3434, R2=0.9888, P<0.0001) when analyzed by a simple regression model. The average value in venous blood was also higher compared to capillary blood. According to Bland Altman Plot analysis, lab results were measured at a 95% confidence interval. CONCLUSION: CRP results from capillary blood showed close correlation with venous blood sampling. At present, venous blood sampling is the preferred method. However, due to difficulty in venous blood sampling, capillary sampling could be considered as an alternative technique for use with children.
Subject(s)
Child , Humans , Infant , Blood Vessels , C-Reactive Protein , Capillaries , Hematology , Informed Consent , Punctures , Pyridines , ThiazolesABSTRACT
Miller-Fisher syndrome is an acute poly-neuropathy typically characterized by the triad of ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and areflexia. Other poly-neuropathy diseases include Guillain-Barre syndrome and Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis. However, not all cases of Miller-Fisher syndrome have the typical three symptoms. These diseases have been differentiated by clinical manifestations and anti-GQ1b IgG antibody testing. In Miller-Fisher syndrome, anti-GQ1b IgG antibody is present in over 95% of patients; however, the frequency is not so high in normal subjects or in those with other poly-neuropathy diseases. Infectious illnesses, such as respiratory diseases and gastrointestinal diseases, usually precede Miller-Fisher syndrome. In general, Miller-Fisher syndrome is a self-limiting illness; however, a few cases of Miller-Fisher syndrome progressing to respiratory failure have been reported, particularly in children. In this case, we report abnormal angiographic findings. We report a case of atypical Miller-Fisher syndrome with internal carotid artery stenosis treated with prednisolone.
Subject(s)
Child , Humans , Ataxia , Brain Stem , Carotid Artery, Internal , Carotid Stenosis , Encephalitis , Gastrointestinal Diseases , Guillain-Barre Syndrome , Immunoglobulin G , Miller Fisher Syndrome , Ophthalmoplegia , Polyneuropathies , Prednisolone , Respiratory InsufficiencyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Obtaining a venous blood sample from infants and children can be a painful and traumatic procedure. It has been suggested that capillary blood samples can serve as substitutes for venous blood samples to diagnose anemia. However, few data exist about the correlation between the laboratory results obtained using capillary and venous blood samples. This study was performed to determine if the results from the LC-178CRP(TM) are the same as the results from a conventional hematology analyzer using venous blood. METHODS: After informed consent was obtained, paired venous and capillary blood sample were collected simultaneously from 104 children (M : F=50 : 54). The capillary blood was analyzed using the LC-178CRP(TM), and venous blood was analyzed using an automatic hematology analyzer. The following were compared from capillary and venous samples: CBC, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), red cell distribution width (RDW), and platelet count. The results were analyzed by Pearson's correlation and the Bland Altman Plot method. RESULTS: The hemoglobin values were similar between the two groups of samples and had a high coefficient correlation (r=0.877). White blood cells, hematocrit, MCV, and MCH also had a significant correlation between capillary and venous blood samples. Based on the Bland-Altman method, the agreement between the two methods was considered good. CONCLUSION: The hematologic results from the capillary blood had a close correlation with the conventional venous method, including white blood cell count, and hemoglobin, MCV, and MCH levels. The LC-178CRPtrade mark should be considered as an alternative for venous blood sampling for the tested parameters in children.