C Reactive Protein for Differentiating Bacterial from Aseptic Meningitis in Thai Patients
Suchat Sirijaichingkul, MD*, Somsak Tiamkao, MD**, Kittisak Sawanyawisuth, MD**, Verajit Chotmongkol, MD**
Affiliation : * Department of Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences ** Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen
Objectives : To evaluate the efficacy of serum CRP level differentiating between bacterial and aseptic meningi-
tis in Thai patients.
Materials and Methods : The authors measured the serum CRP level in patients who were diagnosed clinically
as bacterial and aseptic meningitis.
Results : The authors evaluated 32 subjects; 12 with bacterial meningitis (all males) and 20 with aseptic
meningitis (13 males; 7 females). The mean serum CRP level in the bacterial meningitis and aseptic meningitis
group was 209.25 + 105.34 (range, 65 to 420) and 67.05 + 40.81 (range, 10 to 169) mg/L, respectively (p <
0.001).
Conclusions : serum CRP can help differentiate between bacterial and aseptic meningitis.
Keywords : Serum CRP, Bacterial meningitis, Aseptic meningitis
