Inadequate Tuberculosis Test for Immunosuppressed Individuals
In a groundbreaking research project, led by Martina Sester and Christoph Lange, a study conducted across eleven European countries has revealed significant limitations in the use of the QuantiFERON-TB-Gold-Plus (QFT-Plus) test for predicting tuberculosis (TB) in immunocompromised patients. The study, published in a reputable medical journal, was announced on Friday.
The study found that the QFT-Plus assay can often yield indeterminate or negative results in immunocompromised patients, particularly those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. This is a concern, as such patients are at a higher risk of developing active TB.
Indeterminate QFT-Plus results were often linked to immunosuppression and disease severity, making it challenging to predict TB infection in these patients. While the QFT-Plus may perform somewhat better than some earlier assays, it still yields indeterminate results, especially when immunosuppressive drugs are used.
The study suggests that QFT-Plus screening should ideally be performed during stable clinical conditions or before initiation of immunosuppressive therapy to minimize indeterminate results and improve reliability. Despite these limitations, a positive QFT-Plus result still predicts an increased risk of active TB, but the overall sensitivity in immunocompromised patients can be low.
The study's findings have potential implications for the diagnostic approach to tuberculosis in immunocompromised patients. They have sparked discussions among medical professionals regarding the need for improved diagnostic methods for TB in this vulnerable population.
The study, which took place in Saarbrücken, Germany, was conducted in collaboration with researchers from eleven European countries. Its significance in the field of medical diagnostics cannot be overstated.
[1] Sester, M., Lange, C., et al. (2022). QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) assay has limitations in immunocompromised patients: A multicentre study. [Journal Name]. [2] Sester, M., Lange, C., et al. (2022). QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) assay has limitations in immunocompromised patients: A multicentre study. [Journal URL] [3] Sester, M., Lange, C., et al. (2022). QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) assay has limitations in immunocompromised patients: A multicentre study. [Preprint URL] [4] Sester, M., Lange, C., et al. (2022). QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) assay has limitations in immunocompromised patients: A multicentre study. [Presentation URL]
[1] This research project, led by Martina Sester and Christoph Lange, highlights the need for alternate therapies and treatments in managing chronic diseases such as chronic kidney disease in immunocompromised patients, given the limitations of the QuantiFERON-TB-Gold-Plus (QFT-Plus) test.
[2] The study revealed that the QFT-Plus can struggle to accurately predict medical-conditions like tuberculosis in patients experiencing chronic-diseases, particularly due to the indeterminate or negative results often associated with immunosuppression and disease severity.
[3] The findings of this health-and-wellness study could pave the way for future research into developing more effective diagnostics for tuberculosis and other medical-conditions in immunocompromised patients, ultimately improving the accuracy of predicting and managing these conditions.
