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 Original Articles |
| Utility of QuantiFERON-TB In-Tube Test for Differentiating Active Tuberculosis from Latent Tuberculosis Infection in an Intermediate Burden Country |
| Suk Hoon Choi, M.D.1, Bum Sik Chin, M.D.2, Sang Hoon Han, M.D.2, Han Sung Lee, M.D.2 Chang Oh Kim, M.D.2, Su Jin Jeong, M.D.2, Hee Kyung Choi, M.D.2, Myung Soo Kim, M.D.2 Jun Yong Choi, M.D., Ph.D.2, Young Goo Song, M.D., Ph.D.2 and June Myung Kim, M.D., Ph.D.2 |
| 1Department of Internal Medicine, KEPCO Medical Foundation Hanil General Hospital, 2Department of Internal Medicine and AIDS Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea |
Vol.40 Num.6 (p305~310)
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Background:The aim of the present study was to assess the contribution of a QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT-IT) in differentiating active tuberculosis (TB) from latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) by quantifying interferon-γ levels.
Materials and Methods:We retrospectively reviewed clinical records of 314 patients older than 15 years who had performed QFT-IT between July 2006 and August 2007 at a tertiary care teaching hospital.
Results:Subjects with active TB (n=81, culture confirmed active TB in 40 subjects) and LTBI (n=76) were included. Mean±SD IFN-γ levels were 4.96±3.98 IU/mL (range -0.08-10) for all subjects with active TB, 4.54±4.05 IU/mL (range -0.08-10) for culture confirmed active TB, and 4.11±3.57 IU/mL (range 0.35-10) for subjects with LTBI. The quantitative results of QFT-IT on IFN-γ levels between all the subjects with active TB and those with LTBI were not statistically significant (P=0.16). The result was similar when compared between those with culture confirmed active TB and those with LTBI, showing little statistical significance (P=0.554).
Conclusion:The production of IFN-γ measured by QFT-IT showed no correlation between its level and the activity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. These results suggest that measuring IFN-γ using QFT-IT might not be useful for distinguishing active TB from LTBI. |
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Keywords : Tuberculosis, Latent tuberculosis, Interferon-γ |
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