Cerebrospinal Fluid Leucine-Rich Alpha-2 Glycoprotein (LRG) Levels in Children with Acute Bacterial Meningitis

This study evaluated the diagnostic role of cerebrospinal fluid leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein (CSF LRG) concentration in children with acute bacterial meningitis, and its role in differentiation from aseptic meningitis. CSF LRG concentration was measured by ELISA Kit of 50 children with bacterial meningitis, 16 aseptic meningitis, and 20 children with normal CSF; control. CSF LRG was significantly elevated (p < 0.001) in bacterial meningitis with a sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of 96%, 100%, 100%, and 90.9%, respectively at a cutoff of 110.0 ng/mL, based on ROC curve. At the same cutoff value, CSF LRG has sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of 96%, 75%, 92.3%, and 85.7%, respectively in differentiating bacterial from aseptic meningitis. However, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV at 139.9 ng/mL for differentiating between definite and probable bacterial meningitis were 88%, 75%, 79.1%, and 84.9%, respectively. CSF LRG should be used as a diagnostic biomarker for bacterial meningitis.