title: A prospective longitudinal study evaluating the usefulness of the interferon-gamma releasing assay for predicting active tuberculosis in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is little information on the efficacy of interferon-gamma-releasing assays for predicting subsequent active tuberculosis in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively enrolled adult patients admitted for allogeneic HCT during a 3-year period in an intermediate-tuberculosis-burden country. All the patients underwent QuantiFERON-TB In-Tube (QFT-TB) assay, while those enrolled during the first 2-year period also received the tuberculin skin test (TST). We observed the development of tuberculosis after HCT for additional 6-month.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 391 patients, 8 developed tuberculosis. Three of the 45 patients with positive QFT-TB results developed tuberculosis, while 5 of the 346 patients with negative or indeterminate QFT-TB outcomes developed tuberculosis (rate difference 2.7 per 100 person-years, P = 0.05). Of the 169 patients who underwent both TST and QFT-TB, 5 developed tuberculosis after HCT. None of the 19 patients with positive TST developed tuberculosis. Among the 150 patients with negative TST, there were 20 with positive QFT-TB and, of these, 3 developed tuberculosis, while 2 of the 130 patients with negative or indeterminate QFT-TB assays developed tuberculosis (rate difference 6.5 per 100 person-years, P = 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Positive QFT-TB assay results predict subsequent development of tuberculosis in HCT recipients in whom latent tuberculosis cannot be detected by TST (NCT01021124).
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Infectious Diseases, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yu-Mi
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Oh
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yang Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jun Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Dae-Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Je-Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoo-Hyung
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: kimsunghanmd@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Sung-Han
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D059425:Interferon-gamma Release Tests / Q000379:methods*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D066027:Transplant Recipients; D014374:Tuberculin Test / Q000379:methods; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: Hematopoietic stem cell transplant; Interferon-gamma releasing assay; Tuberculosis