[Detection of soluble fibrin monomer complexes by the netropsin precipitation test in childhood meningitis].

During a period of two years children with abacterial meningitis as well as bacterial meningitis were examined before treatment and later during disease. The new Netropsin praecipitation test according to Funke and coworkers was used to detect soluble fibrin monomer complexes. Only in a few cases of abacterial meningitis, but in the majority of cases with bacterial meningitis, a positive result had been shown. Excessive increase had been found in Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome. According to our results of coagulation tests we conclude 1. the ethanol gelation test is out-of-date, 2. the heparin treatment in bacterial meningitis is further indicated.