The value of cell free DNA of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the early diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis

Objective To detect the cell-free DNA of Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Cf-TB)in the cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)of patients with tuberculous meningitis(TBM),and to assess the diagnostic value of this method for TBM.Methods We prospectively included patients with suspected meningitis from the Department of Tuberculosis,Beijing Chest Hospital,Department of Neurology,Beijing Chaoyang Hospital and Department of Neurology,263 Hospital of the People’s Liberation Army from September 2019 to March 2022.