Cerebrospinal fluid neopterin analysis in neuropediatric patients: establishment of a new cut off-value for the identification of inflammatory-immune mediated processes.

Objective: A high level of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neopterin is a marker of central nervous system inflammatory-immune mediated processes. We aimed to assess data from 606 neuropediatric patients, describing the clinical and biochemical features of those neurological disorders presenting CSF neopterin values above a new cut-off value that was defined in our laboratory.

Methods: To establish the new CSF neopterin cut-off value, we studied two groups of patients: Group 1 comprised 68 patients with meningoencephalitis, and Group 2 comprised 52 children with a confirmed peripheral infection and no central nervous system involvement.

Human Metapneumovirus in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of a Patient With Acute Encephalitis.

Objective: To report, to our knowledge, the first case of detection of human metapneumovirus in the cerebrospinal fluid of a patient during acute encephalitis.

Design: Case report.

Setting: University hospital.