Serum lactoferrin in children and the correlation to blood leucocytes

Lactoferrin as an indicator of septicemia and endotoxemia in pigs

The levels of plasma lactoferrin (LF) in response to endotoxin and Escherichia coli infusions in piglets were studied to obtain exact time relation of plasma LF increase in relation to start of endotoxin and E. coli infusions. A new enzyme-linked immunoassay of swine LF is presented. 13 piglets had a 10-fold rapid increase of plasma LF concentrations after 0.25 mg/kg endotoxin intravenous infusion. The initial rise was 3.4 mg/l/h. 14 piglets, receiving 1 x 10(11) E. coli intravenously, showed a higher increase of plasma LF concentrations, amounting to 6-9 mg/l/h. Thus, plasma LF was an early marker of septicemia and endotoxemia.

Lactoferrin, C-reactive protein, alpha-1-antitrypsin and immunoglobulin GA in cerebrospinal fluid in meningitis

Cerebrospinal fluid measurements of lactoferrin and alpha-1-antitrypsin showed significant elevation in bacterial meningitis in children. 8 of 10 lactoferrin values and 6 of 11 alpha-1-antitrypsin values were above the upper range of controls. Both proteins correlated well with the total number of leukocytes in the cerebrospinal fluid. C-reactive protein, measured by either agglutination or radial immunodiffusion in the cerebrospinal fluid, failed to demonstrate any usefulness in diagnosing bacterial meningitis. Neither elevated serum C-reactive protein in cases of bacterial meningitis, nor sepsis, gave detectable concentrations of C-reactive protein in the cerebrospinal fluid.