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Cerebrospinal fluid hepatocyte growth factor level in meningitis
Cheng-Len Sy1, Hung-Chin Tsai, Shue-Ren Wann
1Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Summary
Cerebrospinal fluid hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) levels can help classify meningitis. Elevated HGF is linked to meningitis, with distinct levels observed across bacterial, tuberculous, viral, fungal, and parasitic forms.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a cytokine known to be elevated in tuberculous and bacterial meningitis.
- The utility of HGF in differentiating various forms of aseptic meningitis remains unevaluated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the usefulness of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) HGF levels in identifying and classifying different types of meningitis.
- To assess the association of HGF with various meningitis etiologies and other CSF parameters.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study involving 65 patients with meningitis or non-infectious diseases.
- Measurement of CSF HGF levels prior to treatment.
- Correlation analysis of HGF levels with clinical diagnosis, microbiological findings, and other CSF parameters.
Main Results:
- CSF HGF levels were significantly higher in patients with meningitis (1501 pg/mL) compared to those with non-infectious diseases (578 pg/mL).
- Distinct HGF levels were observed across different meningitis types: bacterial (2699 pg/mL), tuberculous (1540 pg/mL), viral (1431 pg/mL), fungal (714 pg/mL), and parasitic (174 pg/mL).
- No significant association was found between CSF HGF levels and other CSF parameters.
Conclusions:
- CSF HGF may serve as a valuable biomarker for classifying meningitis, particularly when pathogen identification is challenging.
- HGF levels can provide additional diagnostic information to aid in patient management, especially in cases with equivocal CSF findings.
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