Mir-29a expressions in peripheral blood mononuclear cell and cerebrospinal fluid: Diagnostic value in patients with pediatric tuberculous meningitis

To evaluate the value of miR-29a expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the diagnosis of pediatric tuberculous meningitis (TBM). Our study enrolled 112 children with TBM and 130 healthy children, from which PBMC and CSF were collected. The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to measure the expression of miR-29a in PBMC and CSF, and then analyze the diagnostic value. Compared with control group, the miR-29a expressions in PBMC and CSF were increased in TBM children (both P < 0.05), and the expressions were associated with following factors: intracranial hypertension, conscious disturbance, focal cerebral symptoms, meningeal irritation, hydrocrania, abnormal electroencephalogram and extra-cerebral tuberculous (all P < 0.05). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that the sensitivity, specificity and area under the curve (AUC) of miR-29a in PBMC was 67.20%, 88.50% and 0.852, respectively, and that in CSF was 81.10%, 90.00% and 0.890, respectively, and that in combination of PBMC and CSF was 84.40%, 95.38% and 0.934, respectively. miR-29a expression in PBMC and CSF may provide a reference for the diagnosis of pediatric TBM.