Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33898338›Full record

ArticleGerms2021

Comparative analysis between tuberculous meningitis and other forms of extrapulmonary tuberculosis.

Fatma Hammami, Makram Koubaa, Amal Chakroun, Khaoula Rekik, Wiem Feki, Chakib Marrakchi, Fatma Smaoui, Mounir Ben Jemaa

Open access · greenAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Germs, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
0.8field-weighted citation impact, top 28% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Study on the Association Network of Tuberculosis Lesions in Adult Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis in China: A Large-Scale Multicenter Observational Study.The Canadian journal of infectious diseases & medical microbiology = Journal canadien des maladies infectieuses et de la microbiologie medicale · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Fatma HammamiMD, Infectious Diseases Department and Extra-pulmonary Research Unity, Hedi Chaker University Hospital, University of Sfax, 3029, Tunisia.
Makram KoubaaMD, Infectious Diseases Department and Extra-pulmonary Research Unity, Hedi Chaker University Hospital, University of Sfax, 3029, Tunisia.
Amal ChakrounMD, Infectious Diseases Department and Extra-pulmonary Research Unity, Hedi Chaker University Hospital, University of Sfax, 3029, Tunisia.
Khaoula RekikMD, Infectious Diseases Department and Extra-pulmonary Research Unity, Hedi Chaker University Hospital, University of Sfax, 3029, Tunisia.
Wiem FekiMD, Radiology Department, Hedi Chaker University Hospital, University of Sfax, 3029, Tunisia.
Chakib MarrakchiMD, Infectious Diseases Department and Extra-pulmonary Research Unity, Hedi Chaker University Hospital, University of Sfax, 3029, Tunisia.
Fatma SmaouiMD, Infectious Diseases Department and Extra-pulmonary Research Unity, Hedi Chaker University Hospital, University of Sfax, 3029, Tunisia.
Mounir Ben JemaaMD, Infectious Diseases Department and Extra-pulmonary Research Unity, Hedi Chaker University Hospital, University of Sfax, 3029, Tunisia.
Hopital Universitaire Hedi Chaker · TN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionTuberculosis is a multisystem disease that may affect any organ or tissue. Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most severe form of tuberculosis and commonly affects the brain. We aimed to study the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and evolutionary features of TBM among adults and to compare them with other forms of extrapulmonary tuberculosis.

methodsWe conducted a retrospective study including all patients hospitalized for extrapulmonary tuberculosis in the infectious disease department in Sfax, Tunisia between 1993 and 2018. We specified the particularities of TBM cases, and we compared them with other extrapulmonary tuberculosis cases.

resultsWe encountered 78 patients diagnosed with TBM, among 519 patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis (15%). The median age was 36 years (23-50) years. There were 44 females (56.4%). In comparison with other forms of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, fever [odds ratio (OR)=4.4; p<0.001], asthenia (OR=3.4; p<0.001) and anorexia (OR=2.3; p=0.001) were significantly more frequent in TBM patients. Adverse effects of antitubercular therapy were more frequent among TBM patients (OR=3.1; p<0.001). The mean duration of antitubercular therapy was 15 (12-20) months. Recovery occurred in 66 cases (84.6%), complications in 44 cases (56.4%) and death in 7 cases (9%). Comparison of the disease evolution showed that complications (OR=7.4; p<0.001) and mortality rates (OR=10.7; p<0.001) were significantly more frequent in TBM patients, while recovery was significantly more frequent in other sites of extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients (OR=0.5; p=0.02).

conclusionsIn our country, TBM remains a disabling disease. Despite antitubercular therapy, the prognosis was more severe with the occurrence of not only complications but also a high mortality rate in comparison with other forms of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. When clinical and laboratory features suggest the diagnosis of TBM, clinicians should look for tuberculosis elsewhere in the body.

Indexed as

adultantitubercularextrapulmonary tuberculosismortalityTuberculous meningitis

Identifiers

PMID33898338
PMCPMC8057847
OpenAlexW3156003642

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.