Radioactive bromide partition test in the diagnosis of tubercular meningitis in children
Srivastava, V.K.; Banerjee, K.K.; Laisram, N.; Sinha, R.S.; Ghorai, B.K.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 81: 448-453
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 4030029 Document Number: 250044
Radioactive 82bromide (0.64 .mu.Ci/kg) was administered orally to 52 children in the age group of 0-12 yr, 41 patients with suspected tubercular meningitis (TBM) and 11 with non-tubercular meningitis. The bromide activity in the serum and CSF were obtained at 48 h. A serum to CSF bromide partition ratio (BPR) of 1.9 and below was highly specific for TBM, and was seen in 38 of 41 patients, this included the 11 patients where the diagnosis of tuberculosis was proved by AFB isolation and/or histopathology. In the non-tubercular group BPR was above 1.9 in all the patients with no false positivity. The present study re-affirms the value of bromide partition test in the diagnosis of tubercular meningitis.