Diagnostic effectiveness of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters in patients diagnosed with meningitis in the emergency department

Objective: To evaluate laboratory findings that predict bacterial meningitis in emergency service and their diagnostic effectiveness. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from patients presenting with meningitis symptoms at a referral hospital in Mersin, Turkey, between January 201...

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Main Authors: Mustafa Uğuz, Nur Zafer Kirdağ, Berfin Çirkin Doruk
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Acute Disease
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jad.jad_84_24
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author Mustafa Uğuz
Nur Zafer Kirdağ
Berfin Çirkin Doruk
author_facet Mustafa Uğuz
Nur Zafer Kirdağ
Berfin Çirkin Doruk
author_sort Mustafa Uğuz
collection DOAJ
description Objective: To evaluate laboratory findings that predict bacterial meningitis in emergency service and their diagnostic effectiveness. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from patients presenting with meningitis symptoms at a referral hospital in Mersin, Turkey, between January 2019 and January 2022. Clinical findings and laboratory results, including leukocyte count, C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin levels in blood, were examined. Logistic regression, Chi square test, and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analyses assessed the predictive value of these parameters. Results: A total of 199 participants were included in the study; 99 patients were diagnosed with meningitis after lumbar puncture and 100 served as controls. Patients with meningitis exhibited significantly higher leukocyte counts (median: 11 890 × 103/μL vs. 7 905 × 103/μL, P < 0.001) and CRP levels (median: 6.00 mg/dL vs. 0.95 mg/dL, P<0.001) compared to controls. Procalcitonin levels were significantly elevated in meningitis patients (median: 0.21 ng/mL vs. 0.10 ng/mL, P<0.001). Logistic regression identified albumin (OR=0.16, 95% CI=0.06-0.40), and CRP (OR=1.18, 95% CI=1.08-1.28) as independent predictors of meningitis. ROC analysis for CRP demonstrated a sensitivity of 80.6% and specificity of 70.0% at a cut-off value of 2.23 mg/dL (AUC=0.792). Conclusions: Elevated albumin levels and CRP contents in the blood were significant predictors of meningitis in emergency service. Early identification of predictive markers may aid in timely lumbar puncture and management of atypical cases.
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spelling doaj-art-a1c02d5950a94e729bcdb1db45c518e22025-07-04T08:20:42ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Acute Disease2221-61892589-55162025-06-01141121210.4103/jad.jad_84_24Diagnostic effectiveness of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters in patients diagnosed with meningitis in the emergency departmentMustafa UğuzNur Zafer KirdağBerfin Çirkin DorukObjective: To evaluate laboratory findings that predict bacterial meningitis in emergency service and their diagnostic effectiveness. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from patients presenting with meningitis symptoms at a referral hospital in Mersin, Turkey, between January 2019 and January 2022. Clinical findings and laboratory results, including leukocyte count, C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin levels in blood, were examined. Logistic regression, Chi square test, and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analyses assessed the predictive value of these parameters. Results: A total of 199 participants were included in the study; 99 patients were diagnosed with meningitis after lumbar puncture and 100 served as controls. Patients with meningitis exhibited significantly higher leukocyte counts (median: 11 890 × 103/μL vs. 7 905 × 103/μL, P < 0.001) and CRP levels (median: 6.00 mg/dL vs. 0.95 mg/dL, P<0.001) compared to controls. Procalcitonin levels were significantly elevated in meningitis patients (median: 0.21 ng/mL vs. 0.10 ng/mL, P<0.001). Logistic regression identified albumin (OR=0.16, 95% CI=0.06-0.40), and CRP (OR=1.18, 95% CI=1.08-1.28) as independent predictors of meningitis. ROC analysis for CRP demonstrated a sensitivity of 80.6% and specificity of 70.0% at a cut-off value of 2.23 mg/dL (AUC=0.792). Conclusions: Elevated albumin levels and CRP contents in the blood were significant predictors of meningitis in emergency service. Early identification of predictive markers may aid in timely lumbar puncture and management of atypical cases.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jad.jad_84_24meningitislumber puncturealbuminc-reactive proteinpredictive markersemergency department
spellingShingle Mustafa Uğuz
Nur Zafer Kirdağ
Berfin Çirkin Doruk
Diagnostic effectiveness of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters in patients diagnosed with meningitis in the emergency department
Journal of Acute Disease
meningitis
lumber puncture
albumin
c-reactive protein
predictive markers
emergency department
title Diagnostic effectiveness of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters in patients diagnosed with meningitis in the emergency department
title_full Diagnostic effectiveness of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters in patients diagnosed with meningitis in the emergency department
title_fullStr Diagnostic effectiveness of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters in patients diagnosed with meningitis in the emergency department
title_full_unstemmed Diagnostic effectiveness of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters in patients diagnosed with meningitis in the emergency department
title_short Diagnostic effectiveness of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters in patients diagnosed with meningitis in the emergency department
title_sort diagnostic effectiveness of blood and cerebrospinal fluid csf parameters in patients diagnosed with meningitis in the emergency department
topic meningitis
lumber puncture
albumin
c-reactive protein
predictive markers
emergency department
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jad.jad_84_24
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AT berfincirkindoruk diagnosticeffectivenessofbloodandcerebrospinalfluidcsfparametersinpatientsdiagnosedwithmeningitisintheemergencydepartment