Version Changes
Revised. Amendments from Version 1
Based on the two reviewers’ comments to version 1, major changes were made to the conclusion and Table 1 while minor changes were made to the results section as seen in the tracked changes. We added the suggested reference in the discussion section. Table 1 was modified to present the characteristics of patients with diagnosis of definite, probable, possible and not-TBM. A sentence was added on cerebral imaging. We also added a sentence about the patients who were positive with urine LAM and those who were positive with urine Ultra. We added an explanation about the 17% of patients had unknown outcome. A limitation was added that TB culture was not used. However, we have found Ultra to be more sensitive than culture (70% versus 43% against definite/probable) for the diagnosis of TBM in our population (Bahr, Lancet ID, 2018). In the conclusion section, we have mentioned the Fuji LAM that is a new LAM POC test that has higher sensitivity in urine than the determine LAM POC and should also be evaluated for diagnosis of TB meningitis both in urine and CSF. Lastly, based on the second reviewer’s comments, we would like to say that a cellular CSF is common in this population with advanced HIV disease even in the setting of a confirmed TB or CM infection (Cresswell, Int J Infect Dis 2018). The not-TBM group scored <6 points on the uniform case definition (n=16) or had a confirmed alternative diagnosis (n=10 with CM).
Abstract
Background: The diagnostic utility of the Mycobacteria tuberculosis lipoarabinomannan (TB-LAM) antigen lateral flow assay on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) has not been extensively studied and the few published studies have conflicting results.
Methods: Lumbar CSF from 59 HIV-positive patients with suspected TBM was tested with TB-LAM and Xpert MTB/Rif Ultra. The diagnostic performance of CSF TB-LAM was compared to positive CSF Xpert MTB/Rif Ultra (definite TBM) and a composite reference of probable or definite TBM according to the uniform case definition.
Results: Of 59 subjects, 12 (20%) had definite TBM and five (9%) had probable TBM. With reference to definite TBM, CSF TB-LAM assay had a diagnostic sensitivity of 33% and specificity of 96%. When compared to a composite reference of definite or probable TBM, the sensitivity was 24% and specificity was 95%. There were two false positive tests with TB-LAM (3+ grade). In-hospital mortality in CSF TB-LAM positive patients was 17% compared to 0% in those with definite TBM by Xpert MTB/Rif Ultra but negative LAM.
Conclusions: Lumbar CSF TB-LAM has a poor performance in diagnosing TBM. Both urine TB-LAM and Xpert Ultra should be further investigated in the diagnosis of TBM.
Keywords: Tuberculous meningitis, extra-pulmonary TB, lipoarabinomannan, TB-LAM, Xpert MTB/Rif Ultra, HIV, Diagnostics, cerebrospinal fluid
Introduction
In many human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) endemic countries, tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the second most common cause of adult meningitis after cryptococcal meningitis 1, and accounts for 1–5% of all tuberculosis (TB) cases 2. TBM is the most severe form of TB and causes substantial morbidity and mortality in children and immunocompromised adults 3, 4. HIV infection is known to increase the risk of death in patients with TBM, as does TBM stage at the time of treatment initiation 2, 5. As is the case in cryptococcosis, high-quality nursing care is a critical component in managing TBM patients 6.
Similarly, diagnosis of TBM is very challenging, especially in resource-limited settings where diagnosis relies on a combination of clinical, radiological and laboratory findings. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra for the diagnosis of TBM using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Culture has many limitations related to turnaround time and sensitivity, and also requires considerable infrastructure and costs 7. Therefore, the development of early point of care diagnosis for TBM is a priority. Recent studies have demonstrated that the next generation Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra is the most sensitive diagnostic test in HIV-positive adults 7. However, Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra is not a bedside test, and thus access to same day results remain a challenge in many settings 7.
Assays based on the detection of mycobacterial lipoarabinomannan (TB-LAM) antigen in urine have emerged as potential point-of-care tests for extra-pulmonary TB 8. There is evidence that urine TB-LAM may help to reduce mortality and predict poor outcomes 9, 10. The WHO recently added the TB-LAM assay onto its essential diagnostic list and recommended TB-LAM in hospitalised HIV positive adults with signs and symptoms of TB 11, 12. However, there are conflicting results about TB-LAM assay sensitivity for TBM diagnosis 13 in CSF. With reference to definite TBM, Cox et al. found a 75% sensitivity using CSF from the fourth ventricle in an autopsy cohort from 91 HIV-infected adults 14. However, Bahr et al. had no positive TB-LAM tests using lumbar CSF from 67 HIV patients with meningitis 13. In light of these results, and now that Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra is used instead of Xpert MTB/RIF, we aimed to further explore the utility of CSF TB-LAM test for the diagnosis of TBM among HIV-positive adults presenting with suspected meningitis.
Methods
Study setting and participants
Between April 2018 and June 2019, we assessed and performed diagnostic lumbar punctures on HIV-positive patients admitted to Mulago National Referral Hospital with suspected meningitis in Kampala, Uganda. Screening for TBM was performed cross-sectionally as part of the High Dose Rifampicin for Tuberculous Meningitis (RIFT) trial (ISRCTN registration number ISRCTN42218549, last updated 24/04/2018) 15. Therefore, we did not calculate a sample size for the current study but included all participants that fit the screening criteria for the RIFT trial 15. All included participants were HIV-infected adults (≥18 years old) who provided written informed consent by participant or surrogate, with a suspected diagnosis of TBM (meningitis symptoms, clinical signs of meningism). Demographic information and baseline characteristics for participants were collected through clinical reviews using customized meningitis screening case report forms approved by the relevant ethics committees (Mulago Hospital Research Ethics Committee, Uganda National Council of Science and Technology, and the University of Minnesota). Opening pressures for CSF were measured using a manometer, followed by standard microbiology analysis (CrAg, cell count, protein, glucose, lactate, culture).
Diagnostic tests
In addition to standard microbiology analysis, CSF was tested with TB-LAM (Alere, Massachusetts, USA), and the test strip interpreted as per manufacturer’s instructions. Briefly, the protective foil cover was removed from each test and the strip labelled with the participant’s number. Two drops (or 60μL) of CSF were added to the sample pad. The test was then read after 25 minutes under standard indoor lighting conditions. The reference card was used in interpretation of the results by holding it alongside the patient window. For positive results, purple/gray bars appeared in both the control window and the patient window of the strip. For negative results, one purple/gray bar appeared in the control window of the strip and no bar appeared in the patient window of the strip. If there was no bar in the control window of the strip, the result was considered invalid and the test repeated. The strips were retained and cross checked by a second researcher to corroborate the finding.
CSF was also tested with Xpert MTB/Rif Ultra (Cepheid). Briefly, 2ml of sample reagent was added to 1ml of whole CSF and then left to stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. Then, 2ml of the sample mixture was transferred into the Xpert MTB/Rif Ultra cartridge and loaded into the Xpert machine. The test was run for 90 minutes and results from the assay indicate whether or not Mycobacteria TB (MTB) was detected in the sample. If MTB was detected, the results also stated whether resistance to rifampin was detected.
Test analysis
Data were analyzed using STATA version 14 (STATA, College Station, Texas). The disease prevalence, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, negative predictive values and test accuracy were estimated at 95% confidence interval (CI). The diagnostic performance of CSF TB-LAM was compared to positive CSF Xpert MTB/Rif Ultra (definite TBM) and a composite reference of probable or definite TBM according to the uniform case definition 16. Summaries were made in frequency & percentages for each baseline characteristic considered as a categorical, and medians (interquartile range) when each characteristic is considered as a continuous variable. For baseline variables with some missing data, we calculated the statistics using the available numbers.
Ethical statement
Institutional review board approvals for the study and the associated screening process were obtained locally in Uganda (Mulago Hospital Research Ethics Committee, approval number MREC 1260); and from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK (14388), University of Minnesota (1304M31361) and by the Uganda National Council of Science and Technology (HS136ES). Written informed consent for participation in the study and data publication was obtained from all participants or from their surrogates (e.g. family member or guardian) where the patient had altered mental status and did not have the capacity to provide consent.
Results
Overall, 59 HIV-positive hospitalized participants with suspected meningitis underwent diagnostic lumbar punctures, of which 20% (12/59) had definite TBM, 9% (5/59) had probable TBM, 25% (15/59) had possible TBM, and 46% (27/59) had not-TBM 17. Of those with not-TBM (n=27), 10 had cryptococcosis. Women comprised 50% of participants with an overall median age for all participants of 33 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 28, 40). Only 29% of the participants were receiving antiretroviral therapy at diagnosis. Among participants reporting a headache (n=57), the median duration of headache was 14 days (IQR: 14, 24). The CSF opening pressures at baseline (n=45) had a median of 200 mmH 2O (IQR: 120, 260). Overall, 55% (n=36) had an acellular CSF, whilst those with a CSF lymphocytic pleocytosis had a median CSF white blood cell of 160 cells/μL (IQR: 135, 268) ( Table 1). Only about 10% of the participants had cerebral imaging done as the CT scanner was dysfunctional for part of the study period. About twenty five percent of the patients had a positive TB-LAM while 20% had a positive urine MTB/Rif Ultra.
Table 1. Characteristics of the study population.
Baseline characteristics | Overall (N=59) | Definite TBM (n=12) | Probable TBM (n=5) | Possible TBM (n=15) | Not-TBM (n=27) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
N * | Statistic | N * | Statistic | N * | Statistic | N * | Statistic | N * | Statistic | |
Women, n (%) | 58 | 29 (50) | 12 | 6 (50) | 5 | 3 (60) | 15 | 4 (26.7) | 26 | 16 (61.5) |
Age in years, median (IQR) | 58 | 33 (28-40) | 12 | 29 (28-33) | 5 | 26 (24-34) | 15 | 35 (32-43) | 26 | 34 (26-46) |
On ART, n (%) | 47 | 29 (62) | 11 | 7 (63.6) | 2 | 2 (100) | 11 | 3 (27.3) | 23 | 17 (73.9) |
Headache, n (%) | 57 | 46 (81) | 12 | 10 (83.3) | 5 | 4 (80) | 14 | 12 (85.7) | 26 | 20 (76.9) |
Duration of headache,
median (IQR) days |
45 | 14 (14-24) | 10 | 17.5 (14-30) | 4 | 14 (10.5-17.5) | 12 | 17.5 (14-31.5) | 19 | 14 (7-30) |
Glasgow Coma Scale score,
mean (SD) |
55 | 13 (2.6) | 12 | 12.5 (2.9) | 5 | 11.8 (2.4) | 14 | 12.7 (2.9) | 24 | 14.3 (2.1) |
CSF CrAg positive, n (%) | 58 | 10 (17) | 12 | 0 (0) | 5 | 0 (0) | 15 | 0 (0) | 26 | 10 (38.4) |
CSF Opening Pressure,
median (IQR) mmH2o |
45 | 200 (120-260) | 7 | 180 (70-240) | 3 | 260 (95-400) | 13 | 190 (120-270) | 22 | 215 (120-260) |
Acellular CSF, n (%) | 55 | 36 (55) | 11 | 3 (27.3) | 5 | 1 (20) | 14 | 11 (78.6) | 25 | 21 (84) |
CSF WBC in those with CSF
WBC pleocytosis, median (IQR) cells/μL |
55 | 160 (135-268) | 8 | 280 (162.5-575) | 4 | 173 (130-237.5) | 3 | 80 (35-160) | 4 | 145 (87.5-210) |
CSF protein, median (IQR)
mg/dL |
52 | 57 (28-141) | 11 | 184 (107-316) | 5 | 158 (147-215) | 13 | 44 (35-72) | 23 | 31 (22-61) |
CSF glucose, median (IQR)
mg/dL |
32 | 65 (34-82) | 7 | 44 (19.8-61) | 3 | 90 (68-108) | 8 | 86 (56.3-104) | 14 | 61 (31-80) |
CSF lactate, median (IQR)
mmol/L |
36 | 3.9 (2.2-9) | 8 | 9.7 (8.2-11.2) | 4 | 9.2 (6.3-11.1) | 8 | 3.4 (2.3-8.1) | 16 | 2.4 (1.9-3.8) |
Duration of hospitalization,
median (IQR) days |
46 | 7 (4-14) | 9 | 11 (9-14) | 4 | 14.5 (10-16.5) | 9 | 4 (4-14) | 24 | 5 (2-12.5) |
Status at discharge
Alive, n (%) Dead, n (%) Unknown, n (%) |
59 |
40 (68) 9 (15) 10 (17) |
12 |
8 (66.7) 3 (25) 1 (8.3) |
5 |
2 (40) 1 (20) 2 (40) |
15 |
8 (53.3) 2 (13.3) 5 (33.3) |
27 |
22 (81.5) 3 (11.1) 2 (7.4) |
Data presented are percentages (%), medians and interquartile ranges (IQR). N= number of participants with data for each parameter. * Participants with data available. ART = antiretroviral therapy, CSF = cerebrospinal fluid, WBC = white blood cells.
With respect to the reference standard of definite TBM (positive CSF Xpert TB/Rif Ultra), the CSF TB-LAM assay had a sensitivity of 33% (4/12), specificity of 96% (45/47), positive predictive value (PPV) of 67% (4/6), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 85% (45/53). When compared to a composite reference of definite/probable TBM, the TB-LAM assay had a sensitivity of 24% (4/17), specificity of 95% (40/42), PPV of 67% (4/6), NPV of 76% (40/53) ( Table 2). There were two false positive tests with TB-LAM (3+ grade), without any CSF pleocytosis, normal protein, normal glucose, negative cryptococcal antigen, and normal CSF opening pressure. One patient was discharged alive without TB therapy. The second patient had a headache for 60 days at presentation, but they were lost to follow up (i.e. self-discharged) without an etiologic diagnosis. In-hospital mortality in CSF TB-LAM positive patients was 17% (1/6) compared to 0% (0/8) in those with definite TBM by Xpert MTB/Rif Ultra but negative LAM. About 17% of patients had unknown outcome. This was because the study population included patients screened for a clinical trial but only a minority were subsequently enrolled into the trial. We endeavoured to follow screen failures through to hospital discharge but this was not possible in all cases.
Table 2. Summary of diagnostic performance of cerebrospinal fluid mycobacterial lipoarabinomannan assay for tuberculous meningitis.
Reference standard | Disease
prevalence |
Sensitivity | Specificity | PPV | NPV | Test Accuracy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Definite/probable
TBM |
28.8% (17/59) | 23.5% (4/17) | 95.2% (40/42) | 66.7% (4/6) | 75.5% (40/53) | 74.6% (44/59) |
95% CI | 17.8 to 42.1% | 6.8 to 49.9% | 83.8 to 99.4% | 28.7 to 90.8% | 70.1 to 80.2% | 61.6 to 85% |
Definite TBM | 20.3% (12/59) | 33.3% (4/12) | 95.7% (45/47) | 66.7% (4/6) | 84.9% (45/53) | 83.1% (49/59) |
95% CI | 10.9 to 32.8% | 9.9 to 65.1% | 85.5 to 99.5% | 29.3 to 90.6% | 78.9 to 89.4% | 71 to 91.6% |
Data presented are the percentage, numerator/denominator, and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Test Accuracy = overall probability that a patient will be correctly classified. PPV = Positive predictive value, NPV = negative predictive value, TBM = tuberculous meningitis.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a rapid CSF point of care test for TBM is needed; however, this study demonstrated a poor diagnostic performance of the existing Alere TB-LAM on CSF among HIV-associated tuberculous meningitis. Our results corroborate the findings of a recent Zambian study which demonstrated 22% sensitivity for CSF LAM against a reference standard of TB culture 18. While the relatively modest sample size is a limitation, a larger sample size is unlikely to fundamentally alter the findings of sensitivity. One explanation could be that TB-LAM is likely not be found in sufficient quantities in lumbar CSF. TB culture was not used, which is also a limitation of the accuracy analysis. However, Xpert Ultra has a sensitivity that is greater than culture in our setting 7. The novel Fujifilm SILVAMP TB-LAM (FujiLAM) assay has been shown to have higher sensitivity in urine than the Alere TB-LAM and warrants evaluation for diagnosis of TB meningitis both in urine and CSF 19.
Data availability
Underlying data
Figshare: CSFLAM_data set revised.xlsx. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.9415853.v1 19
Data are available under the terms of the Creative Commons Zero "No rights reserved" data waiver (CC0 1.0 Public domain dedication).
Acknowledgements
We thank institutional support from the IDI research office.
Funding Statement
This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust [107742, 107743 and 210772]. This research was also supported in part by the National Institute of Neurologic Diseases and Stroke (NINDS) and Fogarty International Center [R01NS086312, K01TW010268]. DBM and RK are currently supported through the DELTAS Africa Initiative grant [DEL-15-011] to THRiVE-2, from Wellcome Trust grant [107742] and the UK government. FVC is supported through a Wellcome Clinical PhD Fellowship [210772]. FVC is an honorary fellow of the Makerere University – UVRI Centre of Excellence for Infection and Immunity Research and Training (MUII-plus). MUII-plus is supported through the DELTAS Africa Initiative [107743]. The DELTAS Africa Initiative is an independent funding scheme of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa (AESA) and supported by the New Partnership for Africa's Development Planning and Coordinating Agency (NEPAD) with funding from the Wellcome Trust [107743] and the UK Government. The MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit is jointly funded by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) and the UK Department for International Development (DFID) under the MRC/DFID Concordat agreement and is also part of the EDCTP2 programme supported by the European Union.
The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
[version 2; peer review: 2 approved]
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