Abstract
BackgroundPatients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and latently infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (LTBI) are at higher risk to develop tuberculosis (TB) than healthy subjects. Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) were reported to be more sensitive than tuberculin skin tests for the detection of infected individuals in dialysis patients.MethodsOn 143 dialysis patients prospectively enrolled, we compared the results from the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold assay (QFT), to those of an IGRA in response to in vitro stimulation of circulating mononuclear cells with the mycobacterial latency antigen Heparin-Binding Haemagglutinin purified from Mycobacterium bovis BCG (native HBHA, nHBHA).ResultsSeven patients had a past history of active TB and 1 had an undetermined result with both IGRAs. Among the other 135 patients, 94 had concordant results with the QFT and nHBHA-IGRA, 40.0% being negative and therefore not latently infected, and 29.6% being positive and thus LTBI. Discrepant results between these tests were found for 36 patients positive only with the nHBHA-IGRA and 5 only with the QFT.ConclusionsThe nHBHA-IGRA is more sensitive than the QFT for the detection of LTBI dialysis patients, and follow-up of the patients will allow us to define the clinical significance of discrepant results between the nHBHA-IGRA and the QFT.
Highlights
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health problem both in developing and industrialized countries
The Purified Protein Derivative (PPD)-Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) was positive for 66/136 (48.5%) of the patients globally and for 66/115 (57.4%) of those who underwent a TST, indicating the absence of agreement between the TST results and those of the PPD-IGRA in HD patients
A strong association was noted between the PPD-IGRA positivity and male gender
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health problem both in developing and industrialized countries. Whereas tuberculin skin tests (TST) have long been the only method to detect such immune responses, in vitro tests based on the release of interferon-gamma (IFN-c) (interferongamma release assay, IGRA) by the blood cells in the presence of mycobacterial antigens have more recently been developed. Two such tests are commercially available, the QuantiFERONH-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT) (Cellestis Ltd, Carnegie, Australia) and the T-SPOTH.TB (Oxford Immunotec, UK). Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) were reported to be more sensitive than tuberculin skin tests for the detection of infected individuals in dialysis patients
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
