Table 1 Baseline characteristics, clinical manifestations, radiological findings, CSF profiles, laboratory findings, and treatment outcomes of all 310 cases with CNS TB
Variable | Total (n = 310) | Variable | Total (n = 310) |
|---|---|---|---|
Male, n (%) | 188 (60.6) | CNS CT or MRI findings, n (%) cont. | |
Age, mean ± SD, years | 43.64 ± 16.76 | Location of tuberculoma/abscess |  |
The final diagnosis of CNS TB, n (%) | Grey-white matter junction | 31 (75.6) | |
Definite | 132 (42.6) | Deep subcortical location | 17 (41.5) |
Probable | 46 (14.8) | Brainstem | 10 (24.4) |
Possible | 132 (42.6) | Cerebellum | 9 (22.0) |
BMI, mean ± SD, kg/m² | 20.42 ± 3.62 | Spinal cord | 9 (2.9) |
Previous TB diagnosis, n (%) | 76 (24.5) | Cerebral infarction | 86 (28.9) |
ID conditions, n (%) | CSF findings | ||
HIV infection | 132 (42.6) | OP, mean ± SD, cmH2O | 21.83 ± 9.50 |
CD4 cell level, median (min-max), cells/mm3 | 81.0 (37.0–170.0) | WBC count, median (min-max), cells/mm3 | 120.0 (0.0–2,800) |
SLE | 23 (7.4) | %neutrophils, median (min-max), % | 14.0 (0.0–99) |
Others | 5 (1.6) | %lymphocytes, median (min-max), % | 80.0 (0.0–100) |
NID, n (%) | 150 (48.4) | Protein, median (min-max), mg/dL | 177.5 (12–5,877) |
Other comorbidities, n (%) | Glucose, median (min-max), mg/dL | 36.0 (1.0–141) | |
DM | 19 (6.1) | CSF to plasma glucose ratio, median (min-max) | 0.31 (0.01–0.84) |
HT | 41 (13.2) | AFB positive, n (%) | 8 (2.7) |
Kidney disease | 10 (3.2) | Direct PCR MTB positive, n (%) | 47 (15.7) |
Liver disease | 17 (5.5) | MTB culture positive, n (%) | 112 (37.5) |
Heart disease | 9 (2.6) | CNS tissue pathology examination, n (%) | |
Lung disease | 37 (11.9) | AFB positive | 11 (39.3) |
Cancers in remission | 9 (2.9) | Direct PCR MTB positive | 9 (39.1) |
Others | 35 (11.3) | MTB culture positive | 14 (51.9) |
Type and final diagnosis of CNS TB | Initial laboratory testing | ||
TBM, n (%) | Hb, mean ± SD, g/dL | 11.47 ± 2.22 | |
Definite | 121 (42.5) | Hct, mean ± SD, percent | 34.86 ± 6.44 |
Probable | 41 (14.4) | WBC count, median (min-max), cells/mm3 | 7,865 (900–39,950) |
Possible | 123 (43.2) | %neutrophils, mean ± SD, % | 73.69 ± 14.63 |
Tuberculoma/abscessa, n (%) | %lymphocytes, median (min-max), % | 13.0 (0.0–83.0) | |
Definite | 8 (50.0) | BUN, median (min-max), mg/dL | 13.0 (0.8–136) |
Probable | 5 (31.2) | Cr, median (min-max), mg/dL | 0.78 (0.30–9.30) |
Possible | 3 (18.8) | AST, median (min-max), U/L | 29.0 (9.0–1,056) |
Myelitis, n (%) | ALT, median (min-max), U/L | 23.0 (2.0–788) | |
Definite | 3 (33.3) | ALP, median (min-max), IU/L | 79.0 (24.0–706) |
Probable | 0 (0.0) | Albumin, mean ± SD, g/dL | 3.42 ± 0.69 |
Possible | 6 (66.7) | Sodium level, mean ± SD, mmol/L | 131.65 ± 6.68 |
Concurrent active non-CNS TB, n (%) | Anti-TB drug susceptibility testingc, n (%) | ||
Lung | 103 (33.2) | Performed | 128 (41.3) |
Pleura | 2 (0.6) | Not performed | 182 (58.7) |
Lymph node | 19 (6.1) | Fully susceptible | 102 (79.7) |
Others | 19 (6.1) | Isoniazid monoresistance | 11 (8.6) |
Median onset of symptoms, days (min-max) | 14.0 (1.0–210) | Rifampin monoresistance | 2 (1.6) |
Clinical manifestations, n (%) | Pyrazinamide monoresistance | 5 (3.9) | |
Fever | 194 (62.6) | Multidrug resistance | 5 (3.9) |
Headache | 170 (54.8) | Initial anti-TB treatment, n (%) | |
Vomiting | 99 (31.9) | Standard combination regimend | 232 (74.8) |
Meningeal irritation signs | 205 (66.1) | Alternative or modified regimene | 78 (25.2) |
Impaired cognitive function | 143 (46.1) | Adjunctive corticosteroid therapy, n (%) | 200 (64.5) |
Seizure | 39 (12.6) | Surgical interventions, n (%) | |
Hemiparesis | 30 (9.7) | Temporary ventriculostomy | 21 (6.8) |
Paraparesis | 9 (2.9) | Ventriculoperitoneal shunt | 2 (0.6) |
Multi-cranial nerve palsy | 13 (26.5) | Vertebral laminectomy | 10 (3.2) |
Abnormal movement | 6 (1.9) | Vertebral corpectomy | 1 (0.3) |
Impaired sensory systems | 20 (6.5) | Burr hole | 2 (0.6) |
Bowel and bladder dysfunctions | 21 (6.8) | Others | 15 (4.8) |
Cerebellar signs | 18 (5.8) | Outcomes at the end of treatment, n (%) | |
Abnormal gait | 10 (3.2) | Death | 56 (18.1) |
GCS score, mean ± SD | 13.62 ± 2.30 | Cure | 51 (16.5) |
Modified BMRC TBM grade IIIb, n (%) | 30 (9.7) | Improvement | 104 (33.5) |
CNS CT or MRI findings, n (%) | Failure | 9 (2.9) | |
Meningeal enhancement | 149 (49.7) | Defaultf | 5 (1.6) |
Hydrocephalus | 98 (32.7) | Unknowng | 85 (27.4) |
Tuberculoma/abscess | 43 (14.1) | Treatment outcomes, n (%) | |
Single lesion | 14 (32.6) | Favorable | 155 (68.9) |
Multiple lesions | 29 (67.4) | Unfavorable | 70 (31.1) |