Fig. 1

Standard CSF analysis. Basic CSF parameters indicate blood-CSF-barrier disruption and distinguish CM patients from HIV and Ctrl. A Cells were counted in a Fuchs-Rosenthal chamber. Protein level was measured by nephelometry. B Levels of albumin and intrathecal immunoglobulins were measured by nephelometry. Albumin and immunoglobulin ratios were evaluated by serum/CSF ratio. C Glucose ratio refers to serum/CSF levels of glucose. BCBD refers to serum/CSF ratio of albumin and immunoglobulin ratios. Oligoclonal bands were detected through isoelectric focusing and silver nitrate staining. Abbreviations - BCBD: blood-CSF-barrier disruption, CM: cryptococcal meningitis, CSF: cerebrospinal fluid, Ctrl: healthy control group, HIV: human immunodeficiency virus positive, immunocompromised control group IgA: immunoglobulin A, IgG: immunoglobulin G, IgM: immunoglobulin M, OCB: oligoclonal bands