Luef G, Allerberger F, Cheng A, Chan C, Berek K, Pfausler B, Dierich M, Schmutzhard E
Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Innsbruck.
Wien Klin Wochenschr. 1992;104(11):322-4.
Tuberculous meningitis still poses a major diagnostic problem. Recently, several new techniques for rapid diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis have been developed. One of these newer techniques is the detection of mycobacterial fatty acids, using gas chromatography--mass spectroscopy. In this study we evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of this recently reported method in a blind trial. The sensitivity was found to be 100%, specificity only 91%. The number of false positive results limits the value of this test in the primary diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis. Nonetheless, we consider this method to be a valuable tool for establishing the diagnosis in culture-negative patients presenting with signs and symptoms suggestive of tuberculous meningitis.
结核性脑膜炎仍然是一个主要的诊断难题。最近，已经开发出几种快速诊断结核性脑膜炎的新技术。其中一种较新的技术是使用气相色谱-质谱法检测分枝杆菌脂肪酸。在本研究中，我们在一项盲法试验中评估了这种最近报道方法的敏感性和特异性。发现其敏感性为100%，特异性仅为91%。假阳性结果的数量限制了该试验在结核性脑膜炎初步诊断中的价值。尽管如此，我们认为该方法对于在出现提示结核性脑膜炎体征和症状的培养阴性患者中确立诊断是一种有价值的工具。
