Is there any Correlation between Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum C-reactive Protein in Neonates Suspected to Meningitis?

Background: Meningitis is a common life threatening infection in neonatal period. Diagnostic value of CSF-CRP level in bacterial meningitis in children and adults has been studied worldwide, but there are limited studies on CSF-CRP in neonatal meningitis. This study conducted to assess any relation between CSF-CRP and plasma CRP levels and abnormal CSF findings in neonates suspected to meningitis. Methods: Seventy five hospitalized neonates suspected to meningitis were enrolled in this cross sectional study. All infants were gone through a complete sepsis workup including blood and CSF CRP. Results: CSF-CRP level had statistically significant correlation with serum WBC (p= 0.048) and also poor correlation with CSF protein level (p= 0.054). Serum CRP level had statistically significant correlation with CSF WBC (p= 0.008). Conclusion: No correlation found between CSF and serum CRP levels of patients in this study. Although, CSF-CRP is a rapid and easy to interpret test, it can be performed alongside CSF cytology and biochemical analysis, smear and culture as a confirmatory test for definite diagnosis of neonatal meningitis.