Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Case Report

A case of tuberculous meningitis diagnosed early by direct Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) method using centrifuged medium of cerebrospinal fluid culture

Rena Okudera, M.D.1), Yu Hongo, M.D., Ph.D.1), Keito Ishihara, M.D.1), Kanshu Ito, M.D.1), Katsunori Ikewaki, M.D., Ph.D.1) and Kazushi Suzuki, M.D., Ph.D.1)

1) Division of Neurology, Anti-aging, and Vascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, National Defense Medical College

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is a central nervous system infection with a high mortality rate and requires early diagnosis and treatment. Identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the cerebrospinal fluid is of primary importance in the diagnosis of TBM, however, conventional methods have some disadvantages: Rapid results tests such as smear and regular PCR method do not have sufficient diagnostic sensitivity; Nested PCR, which is one of the most sensitive tests, is not available in all facilities; Culture tests require a long period of 4-8 weeks for results. Here we report a case of TBM, diagnosed 14 days earlier than culture test by direct Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) method using centrifuged medium of cerebrospinal fluid (day 18) culture. The method we used here is simple, widely available, and considered to be useful for early detection of TBM.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (837K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 63: 661|664, 2023)
key words: tuberculous meningitis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP), cerebrospinal fluid culture, nucleic acid amplification test

(Received: 31-Mar-23)