Data for: A pilot study of inflammatory mediators in brain extracellular fluid in paediatric tuberculous meningitis (TBM)

This is the data linked to: A pilot study of inflammatory mediators in brain extracellular fluid in paediatric TBM (2021), PlosOne

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most fatal form of tuberculosis
and frequently occurs in children. The inflammatory process initiates
secondary brain injury processes that lead to death and disability. Much
remains unknown about this cerebral inflammatory process, largely
because of the difficulty in studying the brain. To date, studies have
typically examined samples from sites distal to the site of disease,
such as spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood. In this pilot study,
we examined the feasibility of using direct brain microdialysis (MD) to
detect inflammatory mediators in brain extracellular fluid (ECF) in
TBM. MD was used to help guide neurocritical care in 7 comatose children
with TBM by monitoring brain chemistry for up to 4 days. Remnant ECF
fluid was stored for offline analysis. Samples of ventricular CSF,
lumbar CSF and blood were collected at clinically indicated procedures
for comparison. Inflammatory mediators were quantified using multiplex
technology. All inflammatory markers, with the exception of interleukin
(IL)-10 and IL-12p40, were detected in the ECF. Cytokine concentrations
were generally lower in ECF than ventricular CSF in time-linked
specimens. Individual cases showed ECF cytokine increases coinciding
with marked increases in ECF glycerol or decreases in ECF glucose.
Cytokine levels and glycerol were generally higher in patients with more
severe disease. This is the first report of inflammatory marker
analysis from samples derived directly from the brain and in high
temporal resolution, demonstrating feasibility of cerebral MD to explore
disease progression and possibly therapy response in TBM.

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