Objective: To describe the clinical manifestations of tuberculous meningitis in HIV-positive patients with acellular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
Design: Retrospective analysis of case reports.
Methods: Four HIV-positive patients with acellular CSF and tuberculous meningitis are reported.
Results: Clinical presentation did not indicate meningeal infection in three of the four cases, and CSF tests were unusual in all cases. Two patients were diagnosed only after death.
Conclusions: Acellular CSF may obstruct the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in AIDS patients.