What steps do we need to take to improve diagnosis of tuberculosis in children?
Tuberculosis still represents a big global public health challenge. The diagnosis of tuberculosis and the differentiation between active and latent tuberculosis remain difficult, particularly in childhood, because of the lack of a gold standard test for diagnosis. In the last decade, novel diagnostic assays have been developed. Among immunologic tests, new assays based on the measurement of different cytokines released by specific T cells in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens, other than INF-γ, have been investigated. Promising results rely on nucleic acid amplification techniques, also able to detect drugs resistance. Innovative research fields studied the modifications of CD27 expression in T cells as well as different host gene expression in response to M. tuberculosis. Further studies are needed to assess the diagnostic value and the accuracy of these new assays.
Department of Health Sciences, Anna Meyer Children's University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Elisabetta
E
Venturini
Giulia
G
Remaschi
Elettra
E
Berti
Carlotta
C
Montagnani
Luisa
L
Galli
Maurizio
M
de Martino
Elena
E
Chiappini
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 / Q000097:blood
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D015415:Biomarkers; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7
IGRA; IP-10; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Xpert MTB/RIF; children; diagnosis; tuberculosis