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Objectives: Comparisons of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) would expand our knowledge of which biomarker is the best predictor for outcomes of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB)., Methods: We prospectively enrolled 243 PTB patients, in whom PCT, CRP, and sTREM-1 measurement were performed to evaluate their prognostic value for 6-month mortality., Results: Serum PCT, CRP, and sTREM-1 levels on diagnosis of PTB were significantly higher in nonsurvivors (2.22 ± 6.22 vs. 0.13 ± 0.31 ng/mL, P = 0.043; 42.1 ± 59.4 vs. 12.5 ± 29.1 mg/L, P = 0.004; 332 ± 362 vs. 128 ± 98 pg/mL, P = 0.001, respectively) as compared with 6-month survivors. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, PCT ≧ 0.5 ng/mL (hazard ratio 4.13, 95% CI, 1.99-8.58) and sTREM-1 ≧ 129 pg/mL (hazard ratio 3.39, 95% CI, 1.52-7.58) remained independent mortality predictors. Serum PCT and sTREM-1 levels above the cutoffs were also associated with the presence of disseminated tuberculosis., Conclusions: Among PTB patients, higher PCT, CRP, and sTREM-1 levels are observed in nonsurvivors than in 6-month survivors. Serum levels of PCT and sTREM-1 over the cutoffs are independently associated with a poor outcome. In addition, higher PCT and sTREM-1 levels would raise the clinical suspicion of disseminated tuberculosis., (Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) is popular for detecting latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), but its dynamic change is uncertain in high-risk groups such as dialysis patients., Methods: Patients undergoing dialysis were prospectively enrolled. The QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) was used to detect LTBI. After 6 and 12 months, QFT-GIT was repeated to monitor dynamic changes., Results: Only 204 of 391 enrolled patients completed the study. The initial QFT-GIT positive rate of 22.1% decreased to 19.6% after 6 months and to 14.2% after 12 months. The 6-month reversion rate was 45.9% while the conversion rate was 7.7%. Sub-population with new QFT-GIT positivity had 87.5% reversion rate, higher than the 20.8% of patients with persistent QFT-GIT positivity. The QFT-GIT response was independently associated with persistent QFT-GIT positivity. Using 0.93 IU/ml of the initial QFT-GIT response as the threshold can detect 79% persistent positivity in 6-month follow-up. Prior TB had a borderline significance for predicting conversion., Conclusions: In the dialysis population, reversion and conversion occur frequently within six months. The QFT-GIT positive population is heterogeneous and sub-populations have different reversion rates. Higher QFT-GIT positivity threshold can identify patients with persistent QFT-GIT positivity to prioritize follow-up and LTBI therapy., (Copyright © 2013 The British Infection Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Conventional methods for diagnosing tuberculous pleurisy (TB pleurisy) are either invasive or have a long turn-around-time. Performances of pleural adenosine deaminase (ADA), ADA2, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) as diagnostic tools for TB pleurisy were evaluated., Methods: Eighty-eight patients with lymphocyte-predominant pleural exudates between June 2010 and March 2011, including 31 with clinically diagnosed TB pleurisy, were prospectively studied. Pleural ADA and ADA2 activity were measured by colorimetric method, IFN-γ levels by enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay, and IGRA by enzyme-linked immuno-spot (T-SPOT.TB) assay., Results: Pleural ADA, ADA2, and IFN-γ levels, but not the proportion of positive T-SPOT.TB assay, were significantly higher in patients with TB pleurisy than in those without TB pleurisy. The area under the receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.920, 0.893, 0.875, and 0.544 for IFN-γ, ADA2, ADA, and T-SPOT.TB assay, respectively. The combination of ADA ≥ 40 IU/L and IFN-γ ≥ 75 pg/mL yielded a specificity of 100%., Conclusions: Pleural ADA, ADA2 and IFN-γ, but not T-SPOT.TB assay, are all sensitive and specific for TB pleurisy. In patients with lymphocyte-predominant pleural exudates, ADA ≥ 40 IU/L and IFN-γ ≥ 75 pg/mL in pleural effusion imply a very high probability of TB pleurisy., (Copyright © 2013 The British Infection Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Longitudinal studies in household contacts to identify subgroups at risk of active tuberculosis are lacking., Methods: Household contacts of pulmonary tuberculosis patients were prospectively enrolled to receive chest radiography, sputum studies, and T-SPOT.TB assay at initial visit. Repeat examinations every 6 months for 3 years, and 4-month rifampin preventive therapy for T-SPOT.TB-positive contacts were provided. We investigated factors predicting T-SPOT.TB-positivity and active pulmonary tuberculosis., Results: 583 contacts were enrolled with a follow-up duration of 20.7 ± 9.4 months. 176 (30.2%) were T-SPOT.TB-positive initially and 32 (18.2%) of them received preventive therapy. Old age, living in the same room/house with the index case, the index case having a high smear grade (3+ ∼ 4+) and pulmonary cavitation were associated with T-SPOT.TB-positivity. Active tuberculosis developed in 9 T-SPOT.TB-positive contacts; risk factors included T-SPOT.TB-positivity without preventive therapy, living in the same room, and the index case being ≤50 years or female. 108 (61.4%) T-SPOT.TB-positive contacts had repeat examinations. Forty-five had T-SPOT.TB reversion and none of them developed active tuberculosis., Conclusion: Household contacts who are T-SPOT.TB-positive and live in the same room as the index case are at risk of active tuberculosis and require preventive therapy and close follow-up., (Copyright © 2011 The British Infection Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)