Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics

The Korean Pediatric Society (대한소아청소년과학회)
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Usefulness of interferon-γ release assay for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection in young children

  • Yun, Ki Wook (Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Young Kwang (Department of Pediatrics, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Hae Ryun (Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Mi Kyung (Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Lim, In Seok (Department of Pediatrics, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine)
  • Received : 2015.10.15
  • Accepted : 2016.03.13
  • Published : 2016.06.15
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Abstract

Purpose: Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in young children may progress to severe active tuberculosis (TB) disease and serve as a reservoir for future transmission of TB disease. There are limited data on interferon-${\gamma}$ release assay (IGRA) performance in young children, which our research aims to address by investigating the usefulness of IGRA for the diagnosis of LTBI. Methods: We performed a tuberculin skin test (TST) and IGRA on children who were younger than 18 years and were admitted to Chung-Ang University Hospital during May 2011-June 2015. Blood samples for IGRA were collected, processed, and interpreted according to manufacturer protocol. Results: Among 149 children, 31 (20.8%) and 10 (6.7%) were diagnosed with LTBI and active pulmonary TB, respectively. In subjects lacking contact history with active TB patients, TST and IGRA results were positive in 41.4% (29 of 70) and 12.9% (9 of 70) subjects, respectively. The agreement (kappa) of TST and IGRA was 0.123. The control group, consisting of non-TB-infected subjects, showed no correlation between age and changes in interferon-${\gamma}$ concentration after nil antigen, TB-specific antigen, or mitogen stimulation in IGRAs (P=0.384, P=0.176, and P=0.077, respectively). In serial IGRAs, interferon-${\gamma}$ response to TB antigen increased in IGRA-positive LTBI subjects, but did not change considerably in initially IGRA-negative LTBI or control subjects. Conclusion: The lack of decrease in interferon-${\gamma}$ response in young children indicates that IGRA could be considered for this age group. Serial IGRA tests might accurately diagnose LTBI in children lacking contact history with active TB patients.

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References

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