Serial T-SPOT.TB and quantiFERON-TB-Gold In-Tube assays to monitor response to antitubercular treatment in Italian children with active or latent tuberculosis infection

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2012 Sep;31(9):974-7. doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e31825d0d67.

Abstract

We performed a prospective study to investigate T-SPOT.TB and QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-G-IT) dynamics during antitubercular treatment in active tuberculosis (TB) or latent TB. Eighteen children with latent TB and 26 with TB were enrolled. At 6 months of follow-up reversion rate was 5.88% (95% CI:0-13.79) for QFT-G-IT; 9.09% (95% CI:0.59-17.58) for T-SPOT.TB (P=0.921) in TB cases. Significant decline in quantitative response was observed exclusively in TB cases. Our results suggest that serial IGRA have limited use in children receiving antitubercular treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Drug Monitoring / methods*
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / blood
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interferon-gamma Release Tests / methods*
  • Italy
  • Latent Tuberculosis / drug therapy*
  • Latent Tuberculosis / immunology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Tuberculosis / drug therapy*
  • Tuberculosis / immunology

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Interferon-gamma