Abstract
Simultaneous measurements of the sugar-level and chloride-level in the cerebrospinal fluids in 7 cases of tuberculous meningitis of children were conducted together with the observation of clinical symptoms since 1952, and the following results were obtained:
1) In the earlier stage of the disease, sugar-level as well as chloride-level in the cerebrospinal fluids were low in the majority of the measurements.
2) Sugar-level inclined to fluctuate both in recovered cases and non-recovered (fatal) cases.
3) On the contrary, chloride-level readings (measured as NaCl value) were generally stable. In recovered cases, chloride levels reached normal range earlier than sugar-levels did, while in the non-recovered (fatal) cases, chloride levels were within normal range in the majority of the cases.
4) Therefore, if chloride-levels continued to be low in the course of tuberculous meningitis, its prognosis should be considered to be serious in spite of apparent recovery.
5) Although the degree of the state of consciousness is an important factors in the determination of the prognosis of tuberculous meningitis, it is evident by the laboratory findings that the sugar-chloride analysis should be carefully taken in consideration as well. However, chloride-levels, which will tend to be stabile during the course of the disease, may be of more importance than the sugar-levels, which tend to fluctuate.
