A study of structural differences between TBM patients' and non-TBM persons' CSF using UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy

• UV–Vis spectra of TBM and non-TBM persons' CSF were compared.
• The differences were observed between TBM and non-TBM persons' CSF.
• The peak and vale positions, the Amax/Amin ratios were compared.
• Canonical discriminant analysis was used to discriminate TBM and non-TBM samples.
• UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy may be a useful tool for detecting TBM.

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is a very common infectious disease in the central nervous system. The delay of diagnosing and treating TBM will lead to high disability and mortality of TBM. Hence, it is very important to promptly diagnose TBM early. In this work, we proposed a new method for diagnosing TBM with CSF samples by using UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy. CSF samples from TBM patients and non-TBM persons were compared, and the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value reached 83.6%, 69.8%, 77.2%, 76.1% respectively. Our work indicated investigation of CSF using UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy might become a potentially useful method for TBM diagnosis.

CSF samples from TBM patients and non-TBM persons were compared by UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy. The results indicated investigation of CSF using UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy might become a potentially useful method for TBM diagnosis.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide