@entity2348 are the major determinants of fatality in severe @entity7493 ( @entity7493 ). Unfortunately, these @entity281 are difficult to diagnose clinically. @entity1851 ( @entity1851 ) levels were determined in 17 infected and 10 non-infected Nigerian @entity1 with severe @entity7493 and compared with age/sex-matched apparently healthy controls. The aim was to study the response of this acute phase protein to @entity2348 as well as to assess its value in the diagnosis of @entity281 in severe @entity7493 . C3 complement protein levels were also determined in the same group of subjects. The major organisms isolated in samples from these subjects were @entity794 and the coliforms. Mean @entity1851 level in the non-infected @entity1 with severe @entity7493 was 13.8 +/- 6.21 mg/l and rose to 159.83 +/- 124.07 mg/l in the presence of @entity281 . The mean value in healthy non-infected controls was 2.01 +/- 0.96 mg/l. The difference in the mean @entity1851 levels between the infected and non-infected @entity7493 @entity1 was statistically significant at p < 0.01. The mean difference between the non-infected and the control subjects was not significant. Using a diagnostic level of 20.00 mg/l of @entity1851 gave a sensitivity of 85.0% and a specificity of 80.0%. This @entity1851 level is a useful index of @entity2348 in severe @entity7493 . C3 complement protein was low in the non-infected malnourished group, but rose significantly in the presence of @entity281 to values similar to that of the healthy controls. C3 protein thus behaves as an acute phase reactant in the presence of @entity281 in severe @entity7493 , and does not appear to be consumed, probably due to a @entity465 cascade. This suggests a role for C3 measurement in the monitoring of @entity2348 in severe @entity7493 .

Serum @entity1851 and C3 complement protein levels in severely malnourished Nigerian @entity1 with and without XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['children'] @entity7493 :: ('MESH:D011502', 'Disease') :: ['protein-energy malnutrition', 'PEM'] @entity2348 :: ('MESH:D001424', 'Disease') :: ['bacterial infections', 'Bacterial infections'] @entity794 :: ('1280', 'Species') :: ['S. aureus'] @entity281 :: ('MESH:D007239', 'Disease') :: ['infection', 'infections'] @entity465 :: ('MESH:D007153', 'Disease') :: ['deficiency in the early components of the complement'] @entity1851 :: ('1401', 'Gene') :: ['C-reactive protein', 'CRP']
@entity2348 :: (MESH:D001424,Disease) :: ['bacterial infections']
