Mortality associated with central nervous system tuberculosis.
BACKGROUND
Tuberculosis (TB) of the central nervous system (CNSTB) is associated with higher mortality rates than other forms of TB. Epidemiologic associations with and prognostic indicators of CNSTB have not been assessed in a large US population-based study.


METHODS
Between 1995 and 2004 and using a population-based active surveillance study, we compared patients with CNSTB to patients with TB affecting sites other than CNS (non-CNSTB) with respect to sociodemographic, clinical and Mycobacterium tuberculosis genotype variables. Risk factors associated with mortality at 180 days were compared between the 2 groups.


RESULTS
We enrolled 92 patients with CNSTB and 3570 with non-CNSTB. HIV co-infection was present in 31 (33.7%) of the CNSTB cases. In a Cox proportion hazard model, we found that CNSTB patients who died within 180 days were more likely to be older (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.10), have a positive MTB culture from a CNS source (HR 5.11, 95% CI 1.06-24.62) and have hydrocephalus (HR 10.62, 95% CI 3.28-34.36) than patients who survived CNSTB. HIV co-infection association with mortality was not statistically significant (HR 1.74, 95% CI 0.35-8.62).


CONCLUSIONS
In our cohort, hydrocephalus was the most important predictor of mortality post-CNSTB diagnosis.
El Sahly
Hana M
HM
Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Teeter
Larry D
LD
Pan
Xi
X
Musser
James M
JM
Graviss
Edward A
EA
D015331:Cohort Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance; D020306:Tuberculosis, Central Nervous System / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality*