Urinary metabolic characterization of advanced tuberculous meningitis cases in a South African paediatric population

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is a severe form of tuberculosis with high neuro-morbidity and mortality, especially among the paediatric population (aged ≤12 years). Little is known of the associated metabolic changes. This study aimed to identify characteristic metabolic markers that differentiate severe cases of paediatric TBM from controls, through non-invasive urine collection. Urine samples selected for this study were from two paediatric groups. Group 1: controls (n = 44): children without meningitis, no neurological symptoms and from the same geographical region as group 2. Group 2: TBM cases (n = 13): collected from paediatric patients that were admitted to Tygerberg Hospital in South Africa on the suspicion of TBM, mostly severely ill; with a later confirmation of TBM. Untargeted 1H NMR-based metabolomics data of urine were generated, followed by statistical analyses via MetaboAnalyst (v5.0), and the identification of important metabolites. Twenty nine urinary metabolites were identified as characteristic of advanced TBM and categorized in terms of six dysregulated metabolic pathways: 1) upregulated tryptophan catabolism linked to an altered vitamin B metabolism; 2) perturbation of amino acid metabolism; 3) increased energy production–metabolic burst; 4) disrupted gut microbiota metabolism; 5) ketoacidosis; 6) increased nitrogen excretion. We also provide original biological insights into this biosignature of urinary metabolites that can be used to characterize paediatric TBM patients in a South African cohort.