Interferon-gamma release assay as a sensitive diagnostic tool of latent tuberculosis infection in patients with HIV: a cross-sectional study

Author(s)

Klautau, Giselle Burlamaqui ^{[1, 2]} ; Ferreira da Mota, Nadijane Valeria ^[3] ; Costa Salles, Mauro Jose ^[1] ; Burattini, Marcelo Nascimento ^[3] ; Rodrigues, Denise Silva ^{[3, 4]}

Affiliation

^[1] Hosp Irmandade Santa Casa Misericordia Sao Paulo, Santa Casa Sao Paulo Sch Med Sci, Dept Internal Med, Div Infect Dis, Rua Dr Cesareo Mota Jr 112, BR-01303060 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Emilio Ribas Inst Infectol, Av Dr Arnaldo 165, BR-01246900 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Fed Univ Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Rua Sena Madureira 1500, BR-04021001 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Clemente Ferreira Inst, Rua Consolacao 717, BR-01221020 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES; v. 18, NOV 19 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

In developing countries, tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem and the leading cause of death among patients with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). Until 2001, the tuberculin skin test (TST) was the only available tool for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), but false-negative TST results are frequently reported. Recently, the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) release assay (IGRA) has gained ground because it can detect the IFN-gamma secreted by circulating lymphocytes T cells when stimulated by specific TB antigens. However, the role of IGRA in the diagnosis of LTBI in HIV-infected patients has not been well established. This cross-sectional study compared the accuracy of TST (performed by the Mantoux method) and IGRA (QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube, Cellestis, Carnegie, Australia) on the diagnosis of LTBI among patients with HIV. LTBI is defined by LTBI risk and at least one positive test (TST or IGRA), without clinical evidence of active TB. We also assessed the accuracy of TST and IGRA among HIV patients with high and low risk for LTBI. Among 90 HIV patients, 80 met the study criteria for LTBI, fifty-nine (73.7%) patients were TST positive, 21 (26.2%) were negative, whereas 75 patients (93.7%) were IGRA positive, and five (6.2%) were negative. TST showed poor agreement with the diagnosis of LTBI (Kappa: 0.384), while IGRA demonstrated good agreement (Kappa: 0.769). Among 69 patients with high risk and 21 with low risk for LTBI, TST was positive in 48 (69.5%) and 11 (52.4%), while IGRA was positive in 68 (98.5%) and 7 (33.3%) patients, respectively. There were no association between TST and the level of risk (P = 0,191). Conversely, we observed a strong association between the IGRA and risk for LTBI (p < 0.001). Compared to TST, IGRA positivity is consistent with the risk of TB infection and seems to be a better diagnostic tool for LTBI in HIV-infected patients. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/05805-1 - Comparative tests for the diagnosis of latent infection and active tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis using tuberculin skin test and interferon-³ release assay (IGRA) in HIV-infected/AIDS patients
• Grantee: Denise Do Socorro da Silva Rodrigues
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants