Abstract:
Objective To evaluate the effect of immune system disorders on the sensitivity of the interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) in the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.
Methods The hospitalized patients who underwent IGRA with T-cell enzyme-linked immune spot test kit for the detection of M. tuberculosis infection in the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2024 to October 2024 were included in the study after checking their electronic medical records. The information about the patient’s age, gender, number of reactive spots and negative or positive results of IGRA and the prevalence of immune system disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, ulcerative colitis, nephropathy, were collected. Enumeration data were analyzed by using χ2 test and multivariate logistic regression, while measurement data were analyzed by using the grouped rank sum test.
Results A total of 3057 patients were included, including 125 cases of M. tuberculosis infection, 98 cases with history of M. tuberculosis infection, 132 cases with suspected M. tuberculosis infection, 1182 cases of latent M. tuberculosis infection, and 1520 cases without M. tuberculosis infection. In 2834 patients without definite TB diagnosis (history), multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that compared with non-immune system disorders, the likelihood of positive IGRA decreased in patients with lupus erythematosus(OR=0.55, 95% CI: 0.30-1.00), connective tissue diseases, except rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosus (OR=0.50, 95% CI: 0.34-0.73), ulcerative colitis (OR= 0.58, 95% CI: 0.40-0.83), mixed immune system disorders (OR=0.53, 95% CI: 0.29-0.97), and other mono-immune system disorders OR=0.60 (95% CI: 0.40-0.90), while the likelihood of positive IGRA was comparable in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (P=0.884) or nephrology disease (P=0.163).
Conclusion Connective tissue diseases (including lupus erythematosus), ulcerative colitis, and other immune system disorders, except rheumatoid arthritis, might increase the possibility of false-negative IGRA in the diagnosis of tuberculosis; rheumatoid arthritis has limited effect on the sensitivity of IGRA. The study results provided useful reference for the application of IGRA in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in patients with immune system disorders.