The Diagnosis of Tuberculous Meningitis by Polymerase Chain Reaction

ABSTRACT

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method is a proced.ure for in vitro enzymatic ampli fication of a specific segment of DNA. PCR method was used to detect any M. tuberculi DNA in the 16 cerebrospinal fluid specimens from 6 patients clinically diagnosed as tuberculous meningitis. We synthesized two oligonucleotide primers derived from the sequence of a gene that codes for the 65-kilodalton antigen of M. tuberculosis. The amplified 165bp genomic DNA of M. tuberculosis was detected in 3 specimens (18.5%) with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A following southem blot analysis confirmed these mycobacterial DNAs and detected another amplified DNA (25%) that was not seen on the polyacrylamide gels. Conventional detection methods such as smear and culture for M. tuberculosis found these specimens to be negative. Now we recommend PCR and combined southem blot analysis as a useful tool for early and rapid diagnosis of tuberulous meningitis.