Dysregulated immune response makes meningitis more severe

New insights into why some people become more severely ill from a pneumococcal infection. The findings open new avenues for research into personalized infection risk and targeted immune therapies.

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Researchers from Amsterdam UMC, led by Prof. Dr. Diederik van de Beek, professor of neurology, have achieved an important breakthrough. They analyzed blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples from Dutch patients with meningitis and encephalitis and discovered that certain immune substances, which mistakenly target the body’s own immune system, are associated with an increased risk of developing and dying from bacterial meningitis.

The research, published in eBioMedicine, was made possible in part by ItsME Foundation.

The findings show that it remains crucial to invest in medical scientific research into meningitis and encephalitis. With the support of our donors, we can contribute to future research.