title: Limitations of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold test in detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in immunocompromised patients.
abstract: Four cases are presented, immunosuppressed by at least three different mechanisms: one HIV-positive patient with a CD4 count of 0.29 x 10(6)/ml, one malnourished patient, and two kidney-transplanted patients. All patients had a negative interferon (IFN)-gamma test for suspected tuberculosis (TB), but a positive culture. We conclude that a negative IFN-gamma test does not exclude TB disease in immunosuppressed patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. mads.hornum@rh.dk
authors.forename: Mads
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hornum
authors.forename: Klaus Leth
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Mortensen
authors.forename: Anne-Lise
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Kamper
authors.forename: Ase Bengård
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Andersen
mesh_terms: D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology