Abstract:

Objective To use fluorescence quantitation polymerase chain reaction（PCR） for determining Mycobacterium tuberculosis（MTB） DNA in cerebrospinal fluid,and to investigate the clinical significance for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis.Methods A total of 108 clinically-diagnosed or suspected tuberculous meningitis patients and 50 non-tuberculous meningitis patients were enrolled,and their cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected and determined by smear,MTB culturing and fluorescence quantitation PCR.Results The positive rates of smear,MTB culturing and fluorescence quantitation PCR were 9.72%（7/72）,16.67%（12/72）and 76.39%（55/72） in 72 clinically-diagnosed patients with tuberculous meningitis. The positive rates of smear,MTB culturing and fluorescence quantitation PCR were 5.55%（2/36）,11.11%（4/36） and 25.00%（9/36） in 36 suspected patients with tuberculous meningitis. The difference of positive rates among the 3 methods was significant statistically（P<0.05）. Cerebrospinal fluid samples of 50 non-tuberculous meningitis patients determined by smear,MTB culturing and fluorescence quantitation PCR were negative. Conclusions Fluorescence quantitation PCR for determining Mycobacterium tuberculosis can be used for the diagnosis and identification of tuberculous meningitis.

Key words: Fluorescence quantitation polymerase chain reaction, Cerebrospinal fluid, Mycobacterium tuberculosis