A Five Years Study of Tuberculous Meningitis in Iran.
BACKGROUND
Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is a severe form of extra pulmonary tuberculosis with high mortality and morbidity rate in all age group patients specific in adults and children. The incidence and prevalence are not exactly known in Iran. In this study, we tried to evaluate the role of rapid diagnosis and to find out the highest risk group patients.


METHODS
Totally, 1783-suspected patients with tuberculous meningitis whose CSF specimens were admitted at Noor Pathobiology Laboratory, Tehran, Iran were enrolled in this study from January 2009 until December 2013. All specimens were checked for MTB by direct examination, culture and PCR tests, and for the adenosine deaminase (ADA).


RESULTS
Confirmed positive cases were aged from 13 to 82 yr old with mean age 46.63 yr (SD±18.84). The number of diagnosed positive MTB was different by the 3 applied protocol, 64 by PCR, 28 by culture and 33 by direct examination. Considering the result of PCR protocol the TBM was approved in 64 patients with rate of 3.59%. Two patients had other infection as well, one 56 years old with VZV and the other patient who was HIV positive was 27 years old. Increased ADA titer higher than cutoff was relevant with other results of positive samples except in two cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Analysis of the results proved adults are more at risk for tuberculous meningitis than children in Iran are. It is also confirmed PCR method provide the most efficient, rapid and reliable results for these patients who are at the critical situations.
Dept. of Medical Microbiology, Research Center of Reference Laboratories, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
Massoud
M
Hajia
Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences.
Ali Akbar
AA
Amirzargar
Noor Pathobiology Laboratory.
Mina
M
Nazari
Noor Pathobiology Laboratory.
Neda
N
Razavi Davodi
Noor Pathobiology Laboratory.
Morteza
M
Karami Zarandi
Diagnosis; PCR; Tuberculous meningitis