BACKGROUND Early diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is still a challenge; the present study aimed to establish a method of detecting the antigen early secreted antigenic target 6 (ESAT-6) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbance assay (ELISA) protocol and to study the value of detecting ESAT-6 in CSF in the early diagnosis of TBM. METHODS An indirect ELI...

Experimental anti-tubular basement membrane (anti-TBM) disease is an autoimmune interstitial nephritis elicited in susceptible rodents after immunization with renal tubular antigen. The nephritogenic antigen in the immunizing preparation is 3M-1, a 48,000 Mr noncollagenous glycoprotein. The hallmarks of the renal lesion are the presence of anti-TBM antibodies (anti-TBM-Ab) and a dense mononucle...

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is a severe infection of the central nervous system, particularly in developing countries. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are necessary to decrease the high rates of disability and death associated with TBM. The diagnosis is often time and labour intensive; thus, a simple, accurate and rapid diagnostic test is needed. The adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity test is a...

This study is to investigate the association between Leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H) single nucleotide polymorphisms and susceptibility to tuberculous meningitis (TBM) in Chinese Han population of Northern China, and its association with clinical treatment. Patients with TBM and healthy controls were enrolled. We investigated the gene polymorphism (rs17525495) of LTA4H and tuberculous meningit...

OBJECTIVE To compare the differences in presentation and outcome of patients with tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and cryptococcal meningitis (CCM). STUDY DESIGN Case series. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from December 1995 to December 2005. METHODOLOGY Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of TBM or CCM were included in this study. The signs and sympto...

Using monoclonal antibody affinity chromatography, we isolated a 48,000 mol wt, glucose-rich glycoprotein (3M-1) from collagenase-solubilized rabbit renal tubular basement membrane (SRTA). The purified 3M-1 protein is noncollagenous, and is capable of inducing anti-TBM (tubular basement membrane) antibodies and interstitial nephritis in susceptible hosts. Further, when SRTA, at a normally nephr...

BACKGROUND With high short-term mortality and substantial excess morbidity among survivors, tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most severe manifestation of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The objective of this study was to assess the long-term mortality and causes of death in a TBM patient population compared to the background population. METHODS A nationwide cohort study was conducted en...

BACKGROUND Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a common, devastating cause of meningitis in HIV-infected persons. Due to international rollout programs, access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is increasing globally. Starting patients with HIV-associated tuberculous meningitis (TBM) on ART during tuberculosis (TB) treatment may increase survival in these patients. We undertook this study to describe c...

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most common form of central nervous system tuberculosis (TB) and has very high morbidity and mortality. TBM is typically a subacute disease with symptoms that may persist for weeks before diagnosis. Characteristic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings of TBM include a lymphocytic-predominant pleiocytosis, elevated protein, and low glucose. CSF acid-fast smear an...

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE The diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) in resource poor TB endemic environments is challenging. The accuracy of current tools for the rapid diagnosis of TBM is suboptimal. We sought to develop a clinical-prediction rule for the diagnosis of TBM in a high HIV prevalence setting, and to compare performance outcomes to conventional diagnostic modalities and a novel lipo...