INTRATHECAL IMMUNE-RESPONSE IN NEONATAL FLAVOBACTERIUM-MENINGOSEPTICUM MENINGITIS

Neonates are predisposed to serious infections such as meningitis, pro bably due to their immature host reaction to the pathogens. We have st udied the intrathecal immune response in 2 newborns with Flavobacteriu m meningosepticum meningitis. They showed a significant elevation of i mmunoglobulin indices (>1.0), also after the CSF had become sterile wi th a normalized cell count. In addition, an intrathecal increase and s ubsequent decrease of both C3dg and TCC (terminal complement complex) were observed in 1 patient. We conclude that immunoglobulin production and complement activation may occur in neonatal CSF.