Adult tuberculous meningitis. An immunological study.

ABSTRACT

In adult tuberculous meningitis (10), delayed skin hypersensitivity to DNCB was significantly impaired, whereas to tuberculin not altered. Lymphocyte migration (LMI) index was lower in comparison with pulmonary tuberculosis (20) and healthy adults (20). Lower LMI index was statistically not significant than pulmonary tuberculosis. Serum IgG and IgM levels were higher than in healthy adults. In comparison with pulmonary tuberculosis, only IgM levels were raised. We conclude that in adult tuberculous meningitis, cell mediated immune response is impaired and non-specific antibody response is increased than pulmonary tuberculosis and healthy adults.