# Clinical efficacy of dexamethasone combined with isoniazid in the treatment of tuberculous meningitis and its effect on peripheral blood T cell subsets

## TL;DR

Combining dexamethasone with isoniazid improves treatment outcomes and T cell regulation in tuberculous meningitis patients.

## Contribution

Demonstrates that dexamethasone plus isoniazid enhances clinical efficacy and modulates T cell subsets in TBM.

## Key findings

- The observation group had higher total effective rates and faster recovery of cerebrospinal fluid parameters.
- Dexamethasone plus isoniazid reduced clinical symptom duration and improved neurological scores.
- Treated patients showed favorable T cell subset changes and fewer adverse reactions.

## Abstract

To investigate the clinical efficacy of dexamethasone (Dex) combined with isoniazid in tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and its effect on peripheral blood T cell subsets.

A total of 235 patients with TBM were divided into the control group (117 cases) and the observation group (118 cases). Both groups were given conventional treatment, the control group was further given isoniazid, and the observation group was further given Dex combined with isoniazid. The therapeutic effect and improvement of clinical symptoms were evaluated, peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets and neurological function were observed, and patients’ prognosis was evaluated.

The total effective rate of the observation group was higher. The recovery time of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure, CSF protein content, CSF cell count, and hospital stays in the observation group were shorter. The duration of cervicogenic headache, fever, vomiting, and coma in the observation group was shorter. CD3+ and CD4+/CD8+ proportions in the observation group were higher, and CD8+ proportion was lower. The NIHSS score and MRS score of the observation group were lower, as well as the incidence of adverse reactions.

Dex combined with isoniazid alleviates clinical symptoms and neurological abnormalities and regulates peripheral blood T cell subsets in TBM.