The majority of TBM pathology is believed to result from the host inflammatory response, which has been reviewed in depth elsewhere2; several pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL) 1β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 are shown to be induced in TBM13,14. This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and meningeal tuberculosis.