The diagnostic value of apolipoprotein E in pediatric patients with invasive bacterial infections.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the potential diagnostic value of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) measurements in pediatric patients with invasive bacterial infections.

DESIGN AND METHOD: A total of 185 pediatric patients were enrolled in this study, including 94 patients with confirmable infections and 91 patients without confirmable infections. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) ApoE levels were measured by immunoturbidimetry. The diagnostic values of ApoE were evaluated by the receiver operating curve (ROC) method.

RESULTS

ApoE levels in CSF were significantly increased in patients with bacterial meningitis, and serum ApoE was markedly elevated in patients with sepsis or with bacterial meningitis compared with patients with other infections and uninfected children. The optimal ApoE cutoff value for CSF was >1.7 mg/L with 85% sensitivity and 100% specificity and was >42 mg/L in serum with 80% sensitivity and 93% specificity.

CONCLUSION

ApoE detection provided a novel diagnostic marker for invasive bacterial infections in pediatric patients.