Usefulness of interferon-γ release assay for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection in young children

• Published in: Clinical and experimental pediatrics Vol. 59; no. 6; pp. 256 - 261
• Main Authors: Yun, Ki Wook, Kim, Young Kwang, Kim, Hae Ryun, Lee, Mi Kyung, Lim, In Seok
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Clinical and Experimental Pediatics / Korean Pediatric Society 01.06.2016; The Korean Pediatric Society; Korean Pediatric Society; 대한소아청소년과학회
• Subjects: Age; Antigens; Child; Infections; Interferon-gamma release assay; Latent tuberculosis infection; Original; Statistical analysis; Tuberculin skin test; Tuberculosis; 소아과학; United States > US; Interferon-gamma release assay; Latent tuberculosis infection; Child; Tuberculin skin test
• ISSN: 1738-1061; 2092-7258; 2713-4148
• DOI: 10.3345/kjp.2016.59.6.256

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-γ release assay (IGRA) performance in young children, which our research aims to address by investigating the usefulness of IGRA for the diagnosis of LTBI. 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. 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-γ 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-γ response to TB antigen increased in IGRA-positive LTBI subjects, but did not change considerably in initially IGRA-negative LTBI or control subjects. The lack of decrease in interferon-γ 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.