Publication

Abstract : IgG antibody to M. tuberculosis antigen-5 and tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens of 55 patients with tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and 55 patients with non-tuberculous neurological diseases (control group). The geometric mean antibody titre in CSF specimens of TBM patients was 82.4 with antigen-5 and 96.5 with PPD. In the control group, the geometric mean antibody titres for these antigens in CSF specimens were 4.6 and 10.8 respectively. The antibody titres did not show any correlation with tuberculin reactor status, duration of chemotherapy and IgG levels in CSF specimens in patients with TBM. At dilution end point 1: 80, specificity of the assay was 100 per cent with antigen-5 and sensitivity of the assay was 70.9 per cent. False positivity observed in the control group with PPD antigen could be eliminated in 1: 80 dilution in the assay with antigen-5. Antigen-5 is more specific than PPD antigen for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis.