title: [Usefulness of a whole blood interferon gamma assay (QuantiFERON-TB-2G) for detecting tuberculosis infection in HIV-infected persons].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  New blood test (QuantiFERON-TB-2G: QFT-2G), based on detection of IFN-gamma released by T cells in response to M. tuberculosis specific antigens, has the high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of tuberculosis. However, it is essential to evaluate this T cell-based approach in individuals with HIV-associated impairment in T cell immunity.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed the usefulness of QFT-2G on diagnosis of tuberculosis in 13 HIV-infected patients with tuberculosis and the performance of 25 HIV infected persons under highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART). QFT-2G, CD4 counts, and tuberculosis skin test and so on were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitivity of QFT-2G in HIV-infected patients with tuberculosis was 76.9%, which was significantly higher compared with tuberculin skin test, 15.4%. There was one indeterminate case of which CD4 count was 16/microl, the lowest count among the all patients. CD4 counts of 25 HIV infected persons under HAART were between 100 and 1157/microl. There were 3 QFT-2G positive cases among them, who had past history of tuberculosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the very low CD4 counts in HIV-infected patients might adversely affect QFT-2G performance, the sensitivity of QFT-2G in the most of HIV-infected patients with tuberculosis was high, and it was thought that it was useful enough to diagnose tuberculosis infection. Careful observation is required in whether the recurrence of tuberculosis takes place among QFT-2G positive persons who have past history of tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, National Hospital Organization Tokyo National Hospital, 3-1-1, Takeoka, Kiyose-shi, Tokyo 204-8585, Japan. hnagai-in@tokyo-hosp.jp
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Yoshiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawabe
authors.forename: Haruyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ariga
authors.forename: Fumiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shigiyama
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kunogi
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawashima
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Nobuharu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ooshima
authors.forename: Kimihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.forename: Hirotoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Atsuhisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Naohiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nagayama
authors.forename: Shinobu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akagawa
authors.forename: Kazuko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Machida
authors.forename: Atsuyuki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kurashima
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yotsumoto
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D007371:Interferon-gamma