Méningite tuberculeuse. Etude rétrospective de 11 ans (1983–1993) du service des Maladies Infectieuses de l'Hôpital de Santa Maria, Lisbonne

Tuberculous meningitis in adults: MRI contribution to the diagnosis in 29 patients

“…10 When TBM is suspected, treatment should be started immediately, without waiting for a definite diagnosis. 7 In our study, treatment delay was associated with death in three cases and with neurological worsening in seven cases, two of whom had definite sequelae. Treatment duration is variable, ranging from 9 to 24 months.…”

“…However, despite the reported AIDS-TBM association, none of our patients was infected with HIV. [6][7][8] This can be explained by the endemicity of tuberculosis in our country.…”

“…4,9 Twenty-three patients were at stage 2, indicating a slow development of symptoms, as also noted by other authors. 4,7 Early diagnosis is important to avoid morbidity and mortality. 8,10 When a definite diagnosis relies on a CSF positive culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (20-50%) or on the presence of acid-fast bacilli on CSF smear (12.5-45%), diagnosis is frequently presumptive.…”

Cerebro-Meningeal Tuberculosis in HIV-Negative Adults

“…Low glucose content observed in 30-95% was 68.6%. [10,34,35] but the association between low glucose levels in CSF and delayed diagnosis is not common and needs to be clarified by other studies.…”