Relationship of Serum Procalcitonin Levels to Severity and Prognosis in Pediatric Bacterial Meningitis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels and prognosis in children with bacterial meningitis. METHODS: Eighty-two child patients were included in this prospective study. The diagnosis of meningitis was based on clinical features and cerebrospinal fluid findings. PCT levels were measured with a specific immunoluminometric assay. RESULTS: (a) Patients with bacterial meningitis had significantly higher serum PCT than those with viral meningitis. (b) The PCT levels of patients with severe sepsis or septic shock were significantly higher than those who had no or mild sepsis. (c) PCT levels decreased significantly in patients who had good curative effect, whereas PCT levels did not changed in patients who had no curative effect. (d) The PCT levels were significantly higher in those who died than those who survived. CONCLUSIONS: Serum PCT is related to the severity of disease in children with bacterial meningitis. A fall in PCT after treatment may have favorable prognostic significance.