Diagnostic and prognostic value of cerebrospinal fluid free amino acid concentrations in meningitis

ABSTRACT

Thirty two Egyptian children; 20 males and 12 females, were admitted to Abbasia Fever Hospital in Cairo on the clinical diagnosis of meningitis. Their ages ranged between 2 and 15 year with a median of 7 years. Diagnostic Lumber Puncture was done on emission. CSF was examined biochemically, cytologically and bacteriologically, in addition to determination of CSF free ammo acid concentrations [FAAS] by liquid chromatography. Patients were categorised into two equal study groups; bacterial and aseptic meningitis groups. The study revealed that CSF glutamic acid and other FAAS were significantly increased in meningitis whether bacrerial or aseptic. also, there was a higher significant differnce in the level of CSF glutamic acid in bacterial meningitis of poor prognosis versus those with study groups and bacteriological confirmation of CSF glutamic acid and other FAAS concentrations is an easy, rapid and accurate methods in diagnosing the type of meningitis, as well as in the initial assessment of the severity of the disease and prediction of its outcome: