Li X, Wang J, Yang Z, Song Q. Diagnostic values of peripheral blood T-cell spot of tuberculosis assay (T-SPOT.TB) and magnetic resonance imaging for osteoarticular tuberculosis: a case-control study.
Aging (Albany NY) 2021;
13:9693-9703. [PMID:
33744856 PMCID:
PMC8064225 DOI:
10.18632/aging.202720]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Early diagnosis of osteoarticular tuberculosis helps improve patients' outcomes, but little is known about the accuracy of noninvasive diagnostic methods. This case-control study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of peripheral blood T-cell spot of tuberculosis assay (T-SPOT.TB) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
METHODS
Patients suspected with osteoarticular tuberculosis were retrospectively included and diagnosed according to the composite reference standard. T-SPOT.TB was used to detect the number of cells secreting Interferon gamma. Diagnostic performance of T-SPOT.TB and MRI alone and combined were evaluated.
RESULTS
Among the suspected patients, 92 had osteoarticular tuberculosis and 137 non- osteoarticular tuberculosis. T-SPOT.TB assay alone had a higher sensitivity (0.73 vs. 0.60) but a lower specificity (0.69 vs. 0.91 P>0.05) in diagnosing osteoarticular tuberculosis. Combined serial test showed a sensitivity and specificity 0.47, 0.97, respectively, whereas combined parallel test showed a sensitivity and specificity of 0.86, 0.65, respectively. Specificity was higher in the combined serial test than in the T-SPOT.TB assay (P=0.007) or MRI alone (P < 0.001). Furthermore, sensitivity was higher in the combined parallel test than in the T-SPOT.TB assay (P < 0.001) or MRI alone (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Combined blood T-cell spot of tuberculosis assay and osteoarticular MRI have higher sensitivity and specificity for noninvasive osteoarticular tuberculosis diagnosis, compared with either method alone.
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