Abstract

YL Zou, MP Van Antwerpen, GQ Shi, QX Chen, CJ Sindic and C Cocito Microbiology & Genetics Unit, ICP, University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium. Tuberculous meningitis cases were analyzed by an immunoblotting test based on Mycobacterium bovis BCG antigen complex A60. Anti-A60 immunoglobulin G (IgG) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) allowed early diagnosis, and concentrations decreased after recovery. In primary meningitis forms, anti-A60 IgGs were intrathecally synthesized and specific oligoclonal IgGs were present in CSF. In meningeal complications of pulmonary tuberculosis, there were matching titers of anti-A60 IgG in blood and CSF (mirror pattern). Correlation between CSF- restricted patterns and CSF pleocytosis was shown.