title: Tuberculous meningitis in adults: a review of 160 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and neuroimaging features of 160 adult patients with tuberculous meningitis (TBM) according to "Thwaites' diagnostic index."
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects of this retrospective study are the patients with TBM who were followed up between years 1998 and 2009 in a tertiary referral hospital. Diagnosis of TBM was based on clinical, laboratory, and neuroimaging signs and Thwaites' diagnostic index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated from CSF in 59 of 148 patients. Seventeen percent of the patients died, 71% recovered completely, and 13% recovered with neurological sequel at the end of the sixth month.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite new developments in laboratory or neuroimaging techniques, the diagnosis of TBM is still based on clinical features with the help of laboratory. Early diagnosis by suspecting TBM may prevent therapy delay and may result in decrease in the mortality and morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul 34300, Turkey. drfiliz@gmail.com
authors.forename: Filiz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pehlivanoglu
authors.forename: Kadriye Kart
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Yasar
authors.forename: Gonul
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sengoz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014390:Tuberculosis, Meningeal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult