Cerebrospinal Fluid characteristic in Tuberculous Meningitis Patients With and Without Hydrocephalus

Objective Tuberculous meningitis is the most severe kind of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, impacting around 1–5% of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis globally. Hydrocephalus represents the most common complication, suggest that approximately 80% of TBM patients. This study examined the characteristics of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients with TBM, with or without hydrocephalus. Methods A retrospective analysis of patient diagnosed with TBM from January 2022 to January 2025 was conducted, collecting demographic details, clinical features, and laboratory results of 39 patients. Patients with TBM diagnosed with CSF Xpert MTB/RIF. Analysis of CSF characteristics and the incidence of TBM with hydrocephalus, using nominal data and the fisher-exact test. Results A total of 39 patients enrolled in this study. Hydrocephalus was noted in 14 (35.9%) of with tuberculous meningitis (TBM). A predominance of lymphocytes greater than 50% in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was identified as a significant characteristic associated with the development of hydrocephalus in TBM. Conclusion Lymphocyte levels exceeding 50% in CSF appear to be a significant predictor of hydrocephalus in patients with tuberculous meningitis.