OBJECTIVETo preliminarily study the changes in CD4CD25regulatory T cells (Tregs) in children with severe purulent meningitis at the early stage and its possible implications.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 39 children with severe purulent meningitis who were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit from August 2014 to December 2015. According to whether Tregs count was decreased within 12 hours of hospitalization (considering Tregs count <410/mmas decreased), they were divided into two groups: decrease group and non-decrease group. The associations between the changes in Tregs cells and the clinical manifestations, laboratory marker levels, and prognosis were analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 39 cases, 13 (33%) showed a decrease in the proportion of Tregs cells (<31%) and 18 (46%) showed a decrease in the absolute Tregs cell count (<410/mm). Four deaths were all in the Tregs decrease group. Compared with the non-decrease group, the decrease group showed a significantly higher proportion of children with a peripheral blood leukocyte count lower than the normal range and a significantly greater increase in the level of serum procalcitonin (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTregs might be suppressed in children with severe purulent meningitis at the early stage. And its suppression could be related to the severer inflammation reaction and higher mortality in those patients.