title: Latent tuberculosis infection, tuberculin skin test and vitamin D status in contacts of tuberculosis patients: a cross-sectional and case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Deficient serum vitamin D levels have been associated with incidence of tuberculosis (TB), and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). However, to our knowledge, no studies on vitamin D status and tuberculin skin test (TST) conversion have been published to date. The aim of this study was to estimate the associations of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25[OH]D) status with LTBI prevalence and TST conversion in contacts of active TB in Castellon (Spain).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was designed in two phases: cross-sectional and case-control. From November 2009 to October 2010, contacts of 42 TB patients (36 pulmonary, and 6 extra-pulmonary) were studied in order to screen for TB. LTBI and TST conversion cases were defined following TST, clinical, analytic and radiographic examinations. Serum 25(OH)D levels were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) on a COBAS® 410 ROCHE® analyzer. Logistic regression models were used in the statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study comprised 202 people with a participation rate of 60.1%. Only 20.3% of the participants had a sufficient serum 25(OH)D (≥ 30 ng/ml) level. In the cross-sectional phase, 50 participants had LTBI and no association between LTBI status and serum 25(OH)D was found. After 2 months, 11 out of 93 negative LTBI participants, without primary prophylaxis, presented TST conversion with initial serum 25(OH)D levels: a:19.4% (7/36): < 20 ng/ml, b:12.5% (4/32):20-29 ng/ml, and c:0%(0/25) ≥ 30 ng/ml. A sufficient serum 25(OH)D level was a protector against TST conversion a: Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.00; b: OR = 0.49 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07-2.66); and c: OR = 0.10 (95% CI 0.00-0.76), trends p = 0.019, adjusted for high exposure and sputum acid-fast bacilli positive index cases. The mean of serum level 25(OH)D in TST conversion cases was lower than controls,17.5 ± 5.6 ng/ml versus 25.9 ± 13.7 ng/ml (p = 0.041).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that sufficient serum 25(OH)D levels protect against TST conversion.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Division, Public Health Center Castellón, Spain. arnedo_alb@gva.es
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arnedo-Pena
authors.forename: José Vicente
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Juan-Cerdán
authors.forename: Angeles
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romeu-Garcia
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Garcia-Ferrer
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Holguín-Gómez
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Iborra-Millet
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Herrero-Carot
authors.forename: María Jesús Sanchis
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Piñana
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bellido-Blasco
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ferrero-Vega
authors.forename: Lourdes Safont
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Adsuara
authors.forename: Esther Silvestre
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Silvestre
authors.forename: Noemi Meseguer
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.forename: Vicenta Rodrigo
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Bartual
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016358:Contact Tracing; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D002112:Calcifediol