Investigation of the tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) levels of cerebrospinal fluid of meningitis

Objective:In this study,we eveluated the tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)levels of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) and analysized the clinical value in dignosis among bacterial meningitis and viral meningitis.Method:The TNF-αof CSF in 26 cases of bacterial meningitis and 29 cases of viral meningitis were determinated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Result:the cerebrospinal fluid TNF-αlevels in bacterial meningitis were significant higher than those in viral meningitis(P 0.01).There was no correlation between the TNF-αand neutrophil count in CSF(P 0.1).Conclusion:The cerebrospinal fluid TNF-αcan be a reference index among viral meningitis and bacterial meningitis.