Changes in the Protein Levels of PTX3, GM-CSF, and RAGE in Cerebrospinal Fluid in Patients with Secondary Intracranial Infection and Analysis of Their Value in Assessing Disease Severity and Prognosis

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Secondary intracranial infection is a common complication of craniocerebral surgery. This study aims to explore changes in the protein level of cerebrospinal fluid pentraxin 3 (PTX3), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) in patients with secondary intracranial infection, and to evaluate the value of PTX3, GM-CSF, and RAGE in assessing disease severity and prognosis. Methods: From January 2017 to October 2020, 69 patients with secondary intracranial infection after craniocerebral surgery were selected as the infection group, and 46 patients without secondary intracranial infection after craniocerebral surgery were taken as the control group. PTX3, GM-CSF, and RAGE in cerebrospinal fluid of patients were measured to compare disease severity and prognosis. Whether protein levels of PTX3, GM-CSF, and RAGE were correlated with disease severity and patients prognosis was analyzed. Results: PTX3, GM-CSF, and RAGE levels increased with the severity of intracranial infection (p < 0.05) and showed a positive correlation with disease severity (p < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of the combined detection of the three indexes to evaluate the severity of intracranial infection was greater than that of single detection (p < 0.05). PTX3, GM-CSF, and RAGE levels were higher in patients with poor prognosis (p < 0.05), and combined detection of PTX3, GM-CSF, and RAGE was more effective to predict the prognosis of patients (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Protein levels of PTX3, GM-CSF, and RAGE in cerebrospinal fluid are elevated in patients with secondary intracranial infection and are associated with the disease severity. The three indexes have prognostic evaluation values for patients with secondary intracranial infection.