MMP9 and meningeal tuberculosis: MMP-9 levels were 0.62 ± 0.40 ng/ml for controls, 9.0 ± 0.87 ng/ml for stage I, 12.0 ± 1.34 ng/ml for stage II and 16.86 ± 2.7 ng/ml for stage III tuberculous meningitis patients (Fig. 1b and c).