Table 3 Cerebrospinal fluid analysis and Neuroimaging findings of patients with tuberculous meningitis and Brucella meningitis

CSF analysis

CSF leukocytes/ microlitre, mean^a (95% CI)

86.0 (45.1 to 139.9)

116.2 (81.6 to 157.1)

β coefficient^b: -1.51 (-4.44 to 1.43)

0.308

Mild pleocytosis (leukocytes < 50/ microlitre), n (%)

12/27 (44.4)

11/42 (26.2)

RR: 1.70 (0.88 to 3.28)

0.116

CSF PMN percentage^a, mean (95% CI)

34.1 (20.6 to 50.9)

16.1 (10.9 to 22.4)

β coefficient^b: 1.82 (0.48 to 3.16)

0.008

CSF PMN predominance, n (%)

12/26 (46.2)

4/40 (10.0)

RR: 4.62 (1.67 to 12.78)

0.001

CSF protein (mg/dL), geometric mean (95% CI)

128.0 (93.4 to 175.4)

84.3 (61.7 to 115.3)

RoGM: 1.52 (0.96 to 2.41)

0.076

Severe hyperproteinorrhachia (protein ≥ 500 mg/dL), n (%)

2/26 (7.7)

2 (4.8)

RR: 1.62 (0.24 to 10.78)

0.633

CSF glucose (mg/dL), geometric mean (95% CI)

26.8 (20.1 to 35.7)

35.0 (28.8 to 42.6)

RoGM: 0.76 (0.55 to 1.06)

0.107

Severe hypoglycorrhachia (glucose < 10 mg/dL), n (%)

4/26 (15.4)

2 (4.8)

RR: 3.23 (0.64 to 16.41)

0.193

Neuroimaging findings

Hydrocephalus, n (%)

10/27 (37.0)

2/40 (5.0)

RR: 7.41 (1.76 to 31.19)

0.002

Infarct, n (%)

7/27 (25.9)

2/37 (5.4)

RR: 4.80 (1.08 to 21.31)

0.029

Granuloma/Abscess, n (%)

5/26 (19.2)

3/34 (8.8)

RR: 2.18 (0.57 to 8.30)

0.275

Meningeal enhancement, n (%)

8/25 (32.0)

2/35 (5.7)

RR: 5.60 (1.30 to 24.16)

0.012

Nonspecific white matter lesions on T2-weighted and FLAIR images, n (%)

3/19 (15.8)

10/26 (38.5)

RR: 0.41 (0.13 to 1.29)

0.097