title: Presentation and outcome of tuberculous meningitis in a high HIV prevalence setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a common, devastating cause of meningitis in HIV-infected persons. Due to international rollout programs, access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is increasing globally. Starting patients with HIV-associated tuberculous meningitis (TBM) on ART during tuberculosis (TB) treatment may increase survival in these patients. We undertook this study to describe causes of meningitis at a secondary-level hospital in a high HIV/TB co-infection setting and to determine predictors of mortality in patients with TBM.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of cerebrospinal fluid findings and clinical records over a six-month period (March 2009-August 2009). Definite, probable and possible TBM were diagnosed according to published case definitions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TBM was diagnosed in 120/211 patients (57%) with meningitis. In 106 HIV-infected patients with TBM, six-month all-cause mortality was lower in those who received antiretroviral therapy (ART) during TB treatment; hazard ratio = 0.30 (95% CI = 0.08-0.82). Factors associated with inpatient mortality in HIV-infected patients were 1) low CD4(+) count at presentation; adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.4 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03-1.96) per 50 cells/µL drop in CD4(+) count and, 2) higher British Medical Research Council TBM disease grade (2 or 3 versus 1); AOR = 4.8 (95% CI = 1.45-15.87).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Starting ART prior to or during TB treatment may be associated with lower mortality in patients with HIV-associated TBM. Advanced HIV and worse stage of TBM disease predict in-hospital mortality in patients presenting with TBM.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Suzaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marais
authors.forename: Dominique J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Pepper
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schutz
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meintjes
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014390:Tuberculosis, Meningeal / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy