Abstract
We have previously demonstrated that Mycobacterium bovis BCG-specific inimunoglobulin G antibodies in lymphocyte secretions (ALS) can be employed as a marker for active tuberculosis (TB). We aimed to determine whether the ALS method allows detection of subclinical TB infection in asymptomatic individuals. A prospective study of family contacts (FCs) of patients with active TB and healthy controls was performed. Thirteen of 42 FCs had high ALS responses, including 6 FCs who subsequently developed active TB. No correlation was observed between the tuberculin skin test and the ALS responses in the FCs (r = 0.1, P = 0.23). Among patients with active TB, BCG-speciflc ALS responses steadily declined from the time of diagnosis through 6 months following antimycobacterial chemotherapy (P = 0.001). The ALS assay enabled detection of infection in exposed symptom-free contacts, who are at greater risk for developing active TB. The method may also allow discrimination between effective treatment of active infection and suboptimal response to therapy.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1022-1027 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology |
Volume | 11 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 2004 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology
- Clinical Biochemistry
- Microbiology (medical)