Tuberculous Meningitis in Adults: A Review of 60 Cases

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is a very serious disease. Early diagnosis and treatment is reduced mortality and morbidityrates in TBM. This study aimed to determine the main features of TBM cases. Retrospective case review study. All cases of TBM in adults tha to ccurred between 2006 and 2012, Ataturk University Hospital, were studied. The diagnosis of TBM was made using clinical, laboratory and neuroimaging features. The medical history, demographic data, admission symptoms, laboratory results, radiology findings, treatment and mortality rates were evaluated. In total, 60 cases of TBM were evaluated. There were 45% males and 55% females. The mean age presentation was 37.45 years. Headache, poor appetite, fever, sweating, cough and weight losspre dominant symptoms, while neck stiffness, mening ealirritation, blurred consciousness, hemiparesis and coma were the most frequent findings. Ten patients (16.7%), were in the first stage of the disease, 33 (55%) in the second, and 17 (28.3%) in the third. Mycobacterium tuberculosis grew in the cerebrospina lfluid (CSF) 20 (33.3%). Mycobacterium tuberculosis polymer a sechain reaction (PCR) was positivity 34 patients (56.7%). Totally, 11 patients (18.3%) died in thehospital. Were viewed the experience of our infectious diseases unit to define the current clinical presentation and prognosis of patients with advanced stages of TBM. The outcome of TBM is mainly determined by the clinical stage at admission. The advanced stage TBM is often associated with poorprognosis. We believe that early diagnosis and treatment of TBM cases may decrease morbidity and mortality significantly.