Comparative study of CD4 and CD45RO T cells and CD20 B cells in cerebrospinal fluid of syphilitic meningitis and tuberculous meningitis patients

This study was to investigate the differences of lymphocyte in the cerebrospinal fluid ( CSF ) of patients with syphilis meningitis ( SM ) and tuberculous meningitis ( TBM ) for new diagnostic insights. Totally, 79 cases of SM and 45 cases of TBM were enrolled. In the CSF , the CD 4, CD 45 RO or CD 20 positive lymphocytes were detected by immunohistochemistry. The proportion of CD 4 T cells in the CSF lymphocytes in patients with SM was significantly higher than that in patients with TBM (p < 0.05). After medical therapy, there was a significantly decline trend of the CD 4 T‐cell proportion in both groups (p < 0.05). The proportion of CD 45 RO T cells in CSF lymphocytes of patients with SM was less than that of patients with TBM (p < 0.05). After medical therapy, the positive ratio of CD 45 RO T cells was increased in the CSF of both group patients (p < 0.05). The proportion of CD 20B cells in the CSF lymphocytes was not obviously different between the two groups during every stage. In conclusion, there are strong differences of CD 4 and CD 45 RO T‐cell ratio, but not the CD 20 B cells in the meningitis. CD 4 and CD 45 RO T cells in CSF are a useful complement in differentially diagnosing SM and TBM ; it contributes to further understand the pathogenesis and prognosis of SM and TBM .