Open AccessDetection of Delta-like 1 ligand for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis: An effective and rapid diagnostic method
Author(s) -
Tao Peng,
Yan Zhou,
Jinyi Li,
Jinghong Li,
Wencui Wan,
Yanjie Jia
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of international medical research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.421
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1473-2300
pISSN - 0300-0605
DOI - 10.1177/0300060513498669
Subject(s) - medicine , viral meningitis , tuberculous meningitis , meningitis , encephalitis , cerebrospinal fluid , viral encephalitis , biomarker , bacterial meningitis , immunology , pediatrics , virus , biochemistry , chemistry
Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of Delta-like 1 ligand (DLL1) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum, in tuberculous meningitis (TBM).Methods Patients with a definite diagnosis of central nervous system infection (TBM, viral meningitis/encephalitis or bacterial meningitis) were prospectively enrolled alongside patients with intracranial metastatic tumour and patients with no diagnosis (who served as controls). DLL1 content in CSF and serum was measured quantitatively by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; analyses were blinded.Results A total of 173 patients were enrolled: 62 with TBM; 38 with viral meningitis/encephalitis; 26 with bacterial meningitis; 17 with intracranial metastatic tumour; 30 with no diagnosis. CSF DLL1 content was highest for TBM; there were no differences in CSF DLL1 between the other groups. Serum DLL1 content was highest for the TBM and intracranial metastatic tumour groups, with significant differences between the TBM group and the viral meningitis/encephalitis, bacterial meningitis and nondiagnosed groups. There were no differences in serum DLL1 between the viral meningitis/encephalitis, bacterial meningitis and nondiagnosed groups, or between the TBM group and the tumour group.Conclusion As a new biomarker, DLL1 may be of great clinical importance in the diagnosis of TBM.