title: Detection of Delta-like 1 ligand for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis: An effective and rapid diagnostic method.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the diagnostic value of Delta-like 1 ligand (DLL1) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum, in tuberculous meningitis (TBM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with a definite diagnosis of central nervous system infection (TBM, viral meningitis/encephalitis or bacterial meningitis) were prospectively enrolled alongside patients with intracranial metastatic tumour and patients with no diagnosis (who served as controls). DLL1 content in CSF and serum was measured quantitatively by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; analyses were blinded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 173 patients were enrolled: 62 with TBM; 38 with viral meningitis/encephalitis; 26 with bacterial meningitis; 17 with intracranial metastatic tumour; 30 with no diagnosis. CSF DLL1 content was highest for TBM; there were no differences in CSF DLL1 between the other groups. Serum DLL1 content was highest for the TBM and intracranial metastatic tumour groups, with significant differences between the TBM group and the viral meningitis/encephalitis, bacterial meningitis and nondiagnosed groups. There were no differences in serum DLL1 between the viral meningitis/encephalitis, bacterial meningitis and nondiagnosed groups, or between the TBM group and the tumour group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As a new biomarker, DLL1 may be of great clinical importance in the diagnosis of TBM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jinyi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jinghong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Wencui
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China ptcn2000@126.com.
authors.forename: Yanjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008587:Meningitis, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014390:Tuberculosis, Meningeal / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; C512941:DLK1 protein, human; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins
keywords: Delta-like 1; cerebrospinal fluid; diagnosis; serum; tuberculous meningitis