EEG CHANGES IN TUBERCULOUS MENINGITIS - A CLINICORADIOLOGICAL CORRELATION

Objectives: The present study is aimed at describing electroencephalog raphic (EEG) changes in the tubercular meningitis (TBM) and correlatin g these with clinical and radiological findings. Methods: All the pati ents underwent a detailed neurological evaluation, CSF analysis, EEG a nd CT scan studies. Outcome was assessed by the Barthel index (BI) sco re at the end of 3 months, into good (BI greater than or equal to 12) and poor (BI < 12). Thirty-two patients with TBM have been included of which 3 were definite and the remaining highly probable. Their mean a ge was 28 (range 8-62) years and 8 of whom were females. The majority of these patients were in stage III. Results: Clinical signs of raised intracranial tension were present in 9 and history of seizure in 11 p atients. Cranial CT scan was abnormal in 22 patients. The CT scan abno rmalities included hydrocephalus in 20, infarction in 11, exudates in 7 and tuberculoma in 4 patients. The EEG was abnormal in 24 patients. The EEG abnormalities included diffuse theta to delta slowing in 22 pa tients, intermittent rhythmic delta activity in frontal region in 15, right to left asymmetry in 5 and epileptiform discharges in 4 patients . At the end of 3 months, 5 patients died, 13 had poor, 3 partial and Ii complete recovery. The EEG findings correlated with the severity of meningitis, the degree of coma and outcome at 3 months as assessed by Barthel index score. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All right s reserved.