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The levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, soluble TNF receptors p75 (sTNFR-75) and sTNFR-55, interferon (IFN)-γ, and interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-12 were measured in 59 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 15 patients with tuberculous meningitis (TBM). TBM was associated with elevated concentrations of TNF-α, sTNFR-75, sTNFR-55, IFN-γ, and IL-10, while CSF IL-12 was undetectable in all TBM patients. A significant correlation between cytokines and CSF adenosine deaminase activity was also found. The levels of TNF-α did not decrease over time, being still detectable in the CSF 16 months after starting antibiotic therapy, whereas IFN-γ along with anti-inflammatory mediators sTNFR-75, sTNFR-55, and IL-10 remained elevated in the CSF for 4–8 months. The chronic release of cytokines in the CSF compartment was related neither to the TBM stage nor to the clinical outcome of the disease, thus …