Low sensitivity of polymerase chain reaction for diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in southeastern Brazil

V M Brienze; Tonon AP; F J Pereira; E Liso; W A Tognola; M A dos Santos; M U Ferreira

doi:10.1590/s0037-86822001000400015

Low sensitivity of polymerase chain reaction for diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in southeastern Brazil

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2001 Jul-Aug;34(4):389-93. doi: 10.1590/s0037-86822001000400015.

Authors

V M Brienze¹, Tonon AP, F J Pereira, E Liso, W A Tognola, M A dos Santos, M U Ferreira

Affiliation

¹ Departamento de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP.

PMID: 11562736
DOI: 10.1590/s0037-86822001000400015

Abstract

Two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocols showed low sensitivity (36% and 53% for TB AMPLICOR and MPB64 nested PCR, respectively), when compared with classic microbiological methods (73% and 54% for Ziehl-Neelsen staining and culture, respectively), in the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in 91 patients in southeastern Brazil. Only three PCR-positive, microbiologically negative patients were found. Analysis of sequential cerebrospinal fluid samples by nested PCR detected Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA up to 29 days after the introduction of antituberculosis chemotherapy.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Brazil
Humans
Polymerase Chain Reaction*
Prospective Studies
Sensitivity and Specificity
Tuberculosis, Meningeal / diagnosis*