T-SPOT.TB Responses During Treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Author Information
Author(s): Samantha Ribeiro, Kelly Dooley, Judith Hackman, Carla Loredo, Anne Efron, Richard E. Chaisson, Marcus B. Conde, Neio Boechat, Susan E. Dorman
Primary Institution: Instituto de Doenças do Torax/Hospital Clementino Fraga Filho/Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Hypothesis
The study evaluates the relationship between frequency of antigen-specific IFNγ-secreting T cells and treatment response in patients with pulmonary TB.
Conclusion
IFN-γ-producing RD1-specific T cells may be related to bacterial load in patients undergoing treatment for pulmonary TB, but the test's utility as a surrogate marker for treatment efficacy is limited.
Supporting Evidence
- Mean ESAT-6 SFC declined by 22.2 over 24 weeks (p = 0.01).
- Only 10% of individuals with a baseline reactive test reverted to negative at treatment week 24.
- Patients with cavitary disease had higher mean ESAT-6 specific SFC counts than those without.
Takeaway
The study looked at how a blood test can show if treatment for tuberculosis is working, but it found that the test might not be very helpful for this purpose.
Methodology
A longitudinal cohort study using the T-SPOT.TB assay to measure T cell responses in pulmonary TB patients over 24 weeks of treatment.
Potential Biases
The technologist performing the assays was not aware of patients' clinical or microbiological status, reducing potential bias.
Limitations
The use of frozen cells may have diminished T cell reactivity, and the study compared T-SPOT.TB to sputum culture status rather than to durable TB cure.
Participant Demographics
{"mean_age":33.4,"male_percentage":62.1,"HIV_positive_percentage":1.7,"cavitary_disease_percentage":70.7}
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.01
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.06 to 4.10
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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