AUTHOR=Shang Jing , Xue Lanping , Zhao Hongping , Cui Xiaopeng , Shangguan Lijuan , Wang Hailong , Li Xinyi 

TITLE=Relationship between serum prealbumin level and prognosis of community-acquired bacterial meningitis in adults: a retrospective cohort study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=Volume 15 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2024.1424069

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2024.1424069

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=Background:Low serum prealbumin levels have been identified as a predictor of infectious complication in critically ill patients. However, the association in patients with Community-acquired bacterial meningitis (CABM) remains unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship of prealbumin and the poor outcome of CABM through a retrospective cohort study.Methods:A total of 77 patients of CABM were enrolled . They were divided into good outcome group (GOS: 5) and a bad outcome group (GOS: 1 to 4). Serum prealbumin and other clinical records were measured within 24h after admission.Results:Among the included patients,38(65.52%)had a bad outcome (the GOS score between 1-4). The mean age of the overall cohort was 45.3±15.9 years, and 58.6% of patients were male.The mean prealbumin level in the bad outcome group was 115.4 ± 49.4 mmol/L, while the mean level in the good outcome group was 199.1±49.3 mmol/L (p<0.001).Individuals with plasma prealbumin level<=180mmol/L had a 3.32-fold higher risk of CABM than those with normal plasma prealbumin level(OR=4.32 (1.02~18.24),p<0.05).Conclusions:Reduced plasma prealbumin level is independently associated with the poor outcome of CABM. Plasma prealbumin level might help to identify patients at high risk of bad outcome.