Indian Journal of Ophthalmology

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2009  |  Volume : 57  |  Issue : 6  |  Page : 427--430

Utility of QuantiFERON TB gold test in a south Indian patient population of ocular inflammation


Kalpana Babu1, Vidya Satish1, S Satish2, DK SubbaKrishna3, Mariamma Philips Abraham3, Krishna R Murthy1 
1 Vittala International Institute of Ophthalmology & Prabha Eye Clinic And Research Center, Bangalore, India
2 Santosh Diagnostic centre, Bangalore, India
3 Department of Biostatistics, National Institute of Mental Health Sciences, Bangalore, India

Correspondence Address:
Kalpana Babu
Prabha Eye clinic & Research Centre, 504, 40th cross, Jayanagar 8th block, Bangalore-560 070
India

Aim : To study the utility of interferon-g release assays (QuantiFERON TB gold test) in a south Indian patient population of intraocular inflammation. Design : Evaluation of a diagnostic test- a pilot study from January 2007 to October 2008. Materials and Methods : QuantiFERON TB gold test was performed on the following groups of patients following an informed consent. Group A included healthy volunteers without any exposure to tuberculosis (TB) or past history of TB (n=22). Group B included patients with active systemic TB diagnosed by the demonstration of acid-fast bacilli or by the histopathology finding of caseation with granuloma formation from the sputum, lymph node, skin or intestinal biopsies (n=26). Group C included patients with uveitis of known etiologies other than intraocular TB without any history of exposure to active TB (n=21). Group D included patients with a diagnosis of presumed intraocular TB, who responded to antitubercular therapy by decreased or no recurrences following treatment and with a minimum of nine months follow-up following initiation of antitubercular therapy (n=39). Results : The sensitivity and specificity of the QuantiFERON TB gold test to pick up active systemic TB was 58% and 77% respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the QuantiFERON TB gold test to pickup intraocular TB was 82% and 76% respectively. Conclusions : QuantiFERON TB gold test alone may not be specific for intraocular TB. The significance of this test in a case scenario needs to be interpreted with clinical presentation and other evidences for intraocular TB.


How to cite this article:
Babu K, Satish V, Satish S, SubbaKrishna D K, Abraham MP, Murthy KR. Utility of QuantiFERON TB gold test in a south Indian patient population of ocular inflammation.Indian J Ophthalmol 2009;57:427-430


How to cite this URL:
Babu K, Satish V, Satish S, SubbaKrishna D K, Abraham MP, Murthy KR. Utility of QuantiFERON TB gold test in a south Indian patient population of ocular inflammation. Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 2009 [cited 2024 Mar 28 ];57:427-430
Available from: https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=2009;volume=57;issue=6;spage=427;epage=430;aulast=Babu;type=0