Prospective analysis of 61 cases of enteroviral meningitis: interest of systematic genome detection in cerebrospinal fluid irrespective of cytologic examination results

Background: Enteroviruses are the most commonly identified cause of viral m eningitis. Detection of the enterovirus genome in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has proved to be useful in diagnosis and is more rapid and sensitive than viral cultures. In routine practice, cytologic examination results of CSF are obtained swi ftly and PCR indication is performed as a second step. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine, by analysis of complete data from CSF resul ts Tor 61 cases of proven enteroviral meningitis, whether cytologic CSF fin dings can be used to establish viral etiology and to indicate if PCR assay should be performed. Study design: From a prospective study of children adm itted during 1997 for suspected enterovirus meningitis in which PCR and vir al cultures of CSF were systematically performed, we selected 61 patients w ith proven enterovirus meningitis. We compared global white cell count (WCC ), relative percentage of lymphocytes/neutrophils, PCR and culture for ente rovirus, patient age, and clinical data. Results: 92% of patients (56/61) h ad positive PCR in CSF and in 48% (29/61) enterovirus was isolated in CSF. Nine patients (14.75%) had WCC < 10/mm(3); eight of them had positive PCR a nd two had positive culture. There were comparable numbers of CSF with a pr edominance of lymphocytes (n = 25) and CSF with a predominance of neutrophi ls (n = 22), and of positive PCR and positive cultures of CSF in the two gr oups. Results were not influenced by the age of the patients. Conclusion: I rrespective of other CSF parameters, it seems difficult to dispense with PC R assay for enterovirus genome detection. It should be introduced as a true rapid routine test. Early reporting of a positive PCR result could result in a considerable saving in health resources. <(c)> 2001 Elsevier Science B .V. All rights reserved.