Relationship between neutrophil count in cerebrospinal fluid and cerebral infarct appearance in head MRI on tuberculous meningitis patients

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship between neutrophils count in cerebrospinal fluid and cerebral infarction in head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on patients with tuberculous meningitis METHODS: A diagnostic study was done on patients with tuberculous meningitis (TBM) who underwent head MRI examination and cerebrospinal fluid analysis at Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital from January 2015 to September 2016. TBM was diagnosed by Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolation from cerebrospinal fluid. Cut-off value of neutrophil count was determined using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve. Conformity test was done using Kappa test. RESULTS: Thirty seven subjects were recruited in this study. Higher neutrophil count in CSF was observed on subjects with cerebral infarction (p < 0.05). Cut-off value of neutrophil count in CSF was determined as > 41 %. There was a moderate conformity between higher neutrophil count in CSF and cerebral infarction appearance in MRI (p < 0.05, Kappa score 0.529). CONCLUSION: Higher neutrophil count was associated with the appearance of cerebral infarct in head MRI on adult patients with tuberculous meningitis.