The clinical research of cerebrospinal fluid cytology in tuberculous meningitis

Objective To study the diagnostic and prognostic value of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) cytology in tuberculous meningitis.Methods CSF cells were collected with FMU-5 were evaluated with optical microscope after May-Grunwald-Giemsa(MGG) staining.Results In 91.38%(700/766) of patients with tuberculous meningitis,CSF cytology demonstrated a mixed cell profile,and in 8.62%(66/766) a lymphoid cell profile was shown,whereas neutrophils in purulent meningitis and lymphocytes in viral meningitis predominated.Large lymphoid cells were seen in 97.52%(747/766) of tuberculous meningitis,but rarely seen in purulent meningitis or viral meningitis.The number of neutrophils and large lymphoid cells gradually decreased with the improvement of tuberculous meningitis;persisted existence of neutrophils and large lymphoid cells predicted a poor prognosis.Conclusion CSF cytology of tuberculous meningitis is a mixed cell and lymphoid cell profile.Large lymphoid cells are characteristic features of tuberculous meningitis;dynamic changes in CSF cytology can be used for differentiating different types of meningitis and for evaluating the prognosis.