The value of interferon gamma release assays in the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in children

  • MU Faguang ,
  • TAN Taichang ,
  • LI Yi ,
  • HE Hailan
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  • 1. Department of Pediatrics, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu 610072, Sichuan, China; 2. Laboratory of Immunology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu 610072, Sichuan, China; 3. Department of Pediatrics, People's Hospital of Aba Prefecture of Sichuan Province, Barkam 624000, Sichuan, China

Received date: 2015-03-15

  Online published: 2015-03-15

Abstract

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs) in children
with tuberculous meningitis.  Methods  The prospective case-control study was applied. From January 2012 to March 2013,
32 children diagnosed with tuberculous meningitis (TBM group) and 30 children diagnosed with non-tuberculous meningitis (non-TBM group) were recruited. The positive rates of the interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs), tuberculin skin test (TST), mycobacterium tuberculosis antibody test (TB-IgG), cerebrospinal fluid of mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA test (TB-DNA), and the sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive value of all these tests were compared between TBM group and non-TBM group. Results  The positive rate of IGRAs, TST, TB-IgG, and TB-DNA was 87.50%, 56.25%, 46.88% and 34.38% respectively in TBM group, and 6.67%, 23.33%, 20% and 0% respectively in non-TBM group. The differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The sensitivity of IGRAs, TST, TB-IgG, and TB-DNA was 87.5%, 56.25%, 6.88% and 34.38% respectively. The specificity of IGRAs, TST, TB-IgG, and TB-DNA was 93.33%, 76.67%, 80.00% and 100% respectively. The differences of sensitivity and specificity were statistically significant (P<0.05). The sensitivity of IGRAs was higher than that of other tests (P<0.017). The positive predictive value of IGRAs, TST, TB-IgG, and TB-DNA was 93.33%, 72%, 71.43% and 100% respectively. The negative predictive value was 87.50%, 62.16%, 58.54% and 58.82% respectively. Conclusions  IGRAs, TST, TB-IgG, and TB-DNA are valuable in the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis. IGRAs has a relatively higher sensitivity and specificity.

Cite this article

MU Faguang , TAN Taichang , LI Yi , HE Hailan . The value of interferon gamma release assays in the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in children[J]. Journal of Clinical Pediatrics, 2015 , 33(3) : 242 . DOI: 10.3969j.issn.1000-3606.2015.03.011

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