[Leukotriene B4 level in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with tuberculosis meningitis and clinical significance].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the level of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with tuberculosis meningitis (TBM) and analyze the relationships of LTB4 level with cytological parameters and disease severity.


METHODS
By ELISA, LTB4 levels were measured in the CSF of the patients with TBM (diagnosed by modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining), cryptococcal meningitis (CM), central nervous system leukemia (CNSL) or non-inflammatory neurological disease (NIND). CSF cytological testing was performed in TBM patients. Disease severity was evaluated by modified Rankin scale (mRS). LTB4 levels were compared between different disease groups, and the relationships of LTB4 level with white blood cell (WBC) counts, neutrophil counts and disease severity were analyzed statistically.


RESULTS
Compared with CM, CNSL or NIND patients, CSF LTB4 level in TBM patients was remarkably higher. CSF LTB4 level in TBM patients was related to neutrophil counts and neutrophil percentages, but not related to WBC counts. No simple linear correlation was found between CSF LTB4 level and disease severity.


CONCLUSIONS
CSF LTB4 level in TBM patients can be used as a predictor of inflammation degree, but its relationship with disease severity and prognosis need further exploration.
Department of Neurology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.
Jing
J
Wang
Department of Neurology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.
Qing
Q
Zhao
Department of Neurology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.
Guodong
G
Feng
Department of Neurology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.
Qi
Q
Zhu
Department of Neurology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.
Wenjing
W
Wang
Department of Neurology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.
Ting
T
Bian
Department of Neurology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.
Gang
G
Zhao
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000473:pathology; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008297:Male; D016919:Meningitis, Cryptococcal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014390:Tuberculosis, Meningeal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
D007975:Leukotriene B4