title: Prospective evaluation of latent tuberculosis with interferon-gamma release assays in drug and alcohol abusers.
abstract: In vitro tests have been developed for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) infection. The objective was to analyse latent TB infection in drug and alcohol abusers through two interferon-gamma techniques. One hundred and thirty-nine patients were admitted between February 2006 and May 2007. Mean age was 39.8 years [31% HIV positive]. The enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) interferon-gamma assays were positive in 34% of patients with an agreement of 83% (kappa=0.63). Tuberculin skin test (TST) was positive in 29% of patients and the agreement of TST with EIA and ELISPOT interferon-gamma assays was 85% (kappa=0.62) and 83% (kappa=0.57), respectively. Almost 50% of patients with history of TB had a positive in vitro test. In conclusion, we observed a high prevalence of latent TB and good agreement between the new in vitro tests that otherwise may continue to be positive long after developing TB disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rivas
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Latorre
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanvisens
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Domínguez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tor
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prat
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rey-Joly
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D007371:Interferon-gamma