Cytological features of cerebrospinal fluid in 170 the patients with modified ZeiM-Neelsen positive tuberculous mengningitis / 中国神经精神疾病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the features of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the modified ZeiM-Neelsen (MZN) positive tuberculous mengningitis (TBM).Methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 170 patients with tuberculous meningitis confirmed by MZN stain from December 2012 to July 2015.The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship of MZN staining and CSF cytology.Results Among 170 patients with TBM confirmed by MZN staining,128 cases had first detectable acid-fast bacillus (AFB) in earlier stage.The cytology included 15.5％ mixed cellular cytology,58.5％ lymphoid cytology,19.5％ neutrophilic cytology and 6.5％ normal cytology.Twenty-four cases had first detectable AFB within 1-2 months following disease onset.The cytology included 13.1％ mixed cellular cytology,56.6％ lymphoid cytology,21.7％ neutrophilic cytology and 8.7％ normal cytology.Eighteen cases had first detectable AFB 2 months after disease onset.The cytology included 26.7％ mixed cellular cytology,46.7％ lymphoid cytology,20.0％ neutrophilic cytology,6.6％ normal cytology.There was no significant difference in median time of first detectable AFB among those four types of cytology (P=0.812).There was significant difference in median time of first detectable AFB between patients with and without anti-TB therapy [21.5 (12.3,37.8) days vs.8.5 (6.0,16.3)days,P＜0.001].There was no significant difference in median time MZN stain turning negative between patients with and without anti-TB therapy [11 (5.75,19.25) days vs.6(4.25,10.75)days,P=0.230].Conclusions AFB can be detectable within a month after the onset of TBM in most of cases.(MZN) positive staining is not associated with the major type of cytology.Anti-TB therapy may delay the first detectable time of AFB.