Diagnostic usefulness of a T-cell-based assay in patients with miliary tuberculosis compared with those with lymph node tuberculosis

Clin Infect Dis. 2013 Jan;56(2):e26-9. doi: 10.1093/cid/cis872. Epub 2012 Oct 9.

Abstract

Forty-three patients with miliary tuberculosis were evaluated for diagnostic usefulness of enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay. Among noninvasive rapid tests available within 3-5 days, ELISPOT had the highest sensitivity (93%), compared with acid-fast bacilli stain (sputum, 32% and bronchoalveolar lavage, 7%), Mycobacterium tuberculosis polymerase chain reaction (sputum, 53% and bronchoalveolar lavage, 36%), and tuberculin skin test (22%). In comparison with 44 patients with lymph node tuberculosis, the sensitivity of the ELISPOT assay in patients with miliary tuberculosis (93%) was as high as in those with lymph node tuberculosis (95%, P = .63), whereas the sensitivity of the tuberculin skin test was substantially lower in patients with miliary tuberculosis (22%) than in those with lymph node tuberculosis (73%, P < .001).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology
  • Bacterial Proteins / immunology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay*
  • Humans
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Tuberculin Test
  • Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / immunology
  • Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / metabolism
  • Tuberculosis, Miliary / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis, Miliary / immunology
  • Tuberculosis, Miliary / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • CFP-10 protein, Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • ESAT-6 protein, Mycobacterium tuberculosis