Although our cohort was small, and these analytes lost statistical significance after correction for multiple comparisons, and PCA could not identify a specific TBM specific biomarker profile, these findings may point to a potential role of the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and IL-17), growth factors (PDGF-BB and G-CSF) and the antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin in the immunopathogenesis of TBM and to their utility as potential diagnostic biomarkers. Here, IL17A is linked to meningeal tuberculosis.