title: Lymphocytic meningitis: incidence, causes and outcomes over five years.
abstract: Over a five-year period 114 cases of lymphocytic meningitis were admitted to a general hospital. Case notes were reviewed to determine incidence, causes and outcomes and to identify what clinical features, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters or other tests were useful in elucidating a cause. Of 114 patients with lymphocytic meningitis 44 had viral meningitis, six viral encephalitis, and seven had other infective meningo-encephalitis. Seven patients had carcinomatous meningitis, nine had an autoimmune/inflammatory process, thirteen had a demyelinating central nervous system (CNS) disorder, and two had an inflammatory neuropathy. In 26 patients no diagnosis was reached. Six of these showed clear steroid responsiveness. Overall lymphocytic meningitis had a good prognosis. Clinical and CSF characteristics were important in diagnosis and prognosis. Recommendations on management of these cases are presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurology, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4. peterkiz@yahoo.com
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kinirons
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baily
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Gascun
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008216:Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies