Chinese Journal of Contemporary Neurology and Neurosurgery (Oct 2011)
Diagnostic value of early secretory antigenic target⁃6 and interferon⁃γ in cerebrospinal fluid for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis
Abstract
Objective To explore the value of early secretory antigenic target-6 (ESAT-6) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM). Methods Eighty-one patients were examined in our hospital or outpatient clinic. Referenced to the diagnostic criteria of TBM, patients were divided into 3 groups: 21 cases were patients with TBM; 28 were patients with intracranial infection of non-TBM; and 32 controls without nervous system disease. CSF sample was collected by standard lumbar puncture and was used for detection of ESAT-6 and IFN-γ with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results The concentration of ESAT-6 in the CSF of TBM group was 4.46 pg/ml [(2.20-10.55) pg/ml] and the IFN-γ was 34.86 ng/L [(25.62-241.71) ng/L]. The average concentrations of ESAT-6 and IFN-γ in the intracranial infection of non-TBM group and the control group were (1.18 ± 0.49) pg/ml, (12.00 ± 3.37) ng/L and (1.05 ± 0.47) pg/ml, (14.58 ± 3.46) ng/L, respectively. The levels of ESAT-6 and IFN-γ were significantly higher in the TBM group than in the intracranial infection of non-TBM group (H = 35.695, P = 0.000) and the control group (H = 31.560, P = 0.000), but were not significantly different between the intracranial infection of non-TBM group and the control group (t ＝ 1.226, P = 0.226; t = 0.060, P = 0.952, respectively). The Spearman rank correlation analysis showed positive correlation between ESAT-6 and IFN-γ detected in the TBM group (rs = 1.000, P = 0.000). Conclusion The levels of ESAT-6 and IFN-γ in the TBM group were significantly different from the intracranial infection of non-TBM group and the control group. The 2 indicators present certain correlation and can be helpful in the clinical diagnosis of TBM. DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2011.05.014
