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Wright WF, Wang J, Auwaerter PG. Fever of Unknown Origin (FUO) Criteria Influences Diagnostic Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Am J Med 2024:S0002-9343(24)00476-5. [PMID: 39069200 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2024.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2024] [Revised: 07/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Criteria classifying fever of unknown origin (FUO) patients remains subject to discrepancies. A minimal standardized set of investigative tests serves as the foundation for the qualitative criteria, whereas quantitative incorporates the length of evaluation (7 or 3 days). A systematic review of studies would help physicians anticipate the frequency of illness types that could influence management. METHODS Prospective studies published in Medline (PubMed), Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases from January 1, 1997, to July 31, 2022, were included. A meta-analysis estimated associated pooled proportions between these criteria and diagnostic outcomes adjusted to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition (ICD-10) definitions. RESULTS Five qualitative studies corresponded to an increase of 15.3% (95% CI: 2.3-28.3%, p=0.021) in undiagnosed FUO proportions compared to eleven quantitative studies. Quantitative studies had 19.7% (95% CI: 6.0-33.4%, p=0.005) more in adjusted infectious disease proportions than qualitative studies. No significant differences in proportions between FUO defining criteria were noted for adjusted noninfectious inflammatory disorders (p=0.318), oncology (p=0.901), non-inflammatory miscellaneous disorders (p=0.321), diagnostic evaluation process, gross national income (GNI), or World Health Organization (WHO) geographic region. CONCLUSIONS Use of either qualitative or quantitative FUO criteria was associated with a statistically significant risk of over- or under-estimating infectious diseases and undiagnosed illnesses when using an ICD-10 adjusted FUO five-category system. Clinicians should anticipate differences depending on which criteria are used. While further research is warranted, qualitative criteria provide the best framework for study comparisons.
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Affiliation(s)
- William F Wright
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1830 East Monument Street, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
| | - Jiangxia Wang
- Johns Hopkins Biostatistics Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
| | - Paul G Auwaerter
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1830 East Monument Street, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; The Sherrilyn and Ken Fisher Center for Environmental Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
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Wright WF, Stelmash L, Betrains A, Mulders-Manders CM, Rovers CP, Vanderschueren S, Auwaerter PG. Recommendations for Updating Fever and Inflammation of Unknown Origin From a Modified Delphi Consensus Panel. Open Forum Infect Dis 2024; 11:ofae298. [PMID: 38966848 PMCID: PMC11222709 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofae298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Fever of unknown origin (FUO) and inflammation of unknown origin (IUO) are syndromes commonly used as medical diagnoses. Since the existing literature has a mixture of diagnostic approaches, developing consensus-based recommendations would be helpful for clinicians, researchers, and patients. Methods A modified Delphi process was performed from October 2022 to July 2023, involving 4 rounds of online surveys and 2 live video conferences. The panel comprised international experts recruited based on peer-reviewed published publications and studies. Results Among 50 invited experts, 26 (52.0%) agreed to participate. Twenty-three panelists completed round 1 of the survey, 21 completed rounds 2 and 3, 20 completed round 4, and 7 participated in round 5 live video discussions. Of the participants, 18 (78.3%) were academic-based clinicians and researchers, 5 (21.7%) practiced in a community-based hospital, and 6 (26.1%) were female. Consensus was reached on 5 themes: (1) incorporating epidemiologic factors, such as geographic location and travel history; (2) updated criteria for classifying FUO or IUO; (3) initial evaluation approaches; (4) a classification system for diagnoses; and (5) recommendations for judicious limitation of empiric therapies. Experts strongly disagreed with using 2-deoxy-2-[18F] fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography as part of the diagnostic criteria for FUO. There were mixed opinions about the importance of the temperature measurement site, the 3-week minimum illness criterion, the need for a standard definition of relapsing fevers, and the use of similar evaluation strategies for FUO and IUO. Conclusions These Delphi-generated consensus-based recommendations offer potential improvements compared with earlier definitions and a guide for clinical practice and future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- William F Wright
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Lauren Stelmash
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Albrecht Betrains
- General Internal Medicine department, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Catharina M Mulders-Manders
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Chantal P Rovers
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Steven Vanderschueren
- General Internal Medicine Department, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Transplantation, Laboratory of Clinical Infectious and Inflammatory Disorders, University Hospitals Leuven, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Paul G Auwaerter
- The Sherrilyn and Ken Fisher Center for Environmental Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Miller JD, Moskovich N, Nesher L, Novack V. The yield of total body CT in the workup of fever of unknown origin in hospitalized medical patients. Eur J Intern Med 2024; 124:84-88. [PMID: 38307732 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2024.01.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Total body computerized tomography (TBCT) is frequently used as a diagnostic tool for fever of unknown origin (FUO) workup instead of a recommended fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography FDG-PET/CT. We have assessed the TBCT diagnostic yield on a large, unselected cohort of patients with FUO. METHODS We performed a single-center retrospective cohort study, examining all patients hospitalized in internal medicine between 2012 and 2019 with a documented fever and three negative blood cultures who subsequently had a total-body CT performed. After manually reviewing, we included 408 who met the criteria of FUO. We defined a positive study as a scan that led to the documented final diagnosis. RESULTS A total of 164 patients (40.2 %) had a positive TBCT result. The majority of positive CT findings were of infectious etiologies (58.5 %), followed by neoplasms (22.8 %) and inflammatory disorders (14.0 %), with the chest (43.9 %) and abdomen (29.8 %) most affected. Using a logistic regression model, a positive scan results were associated with an elevated CRP (p<0.001). Decision tree analysis showed that 55 % of scans of patients with an elevated CRP (>6 mg/dL), low hemoglobin and high leucocyte count (>18000/ml) were positive. Patients without an elevated CRP had a positive scan in only 26 % of tests, and those with also an elevated albumin (>4 gr/dL) and low CRP had positive scan in only 11 % of cases. CONCLUSIONS TBCT has a clinically significant yield under specific clinical scenarios in medical patients with FUO- reaching 55 % in patients with an elevated CRP and leukocyte count and low hemoglobin. It is reasonable to proceed to TTBCT when FDG-PET/CT is unavailable and in well-defined clinical situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob David Miller
- Division of Internal Medicine, Soroka University Medical Center and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Naomy Moskovich
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Lior Nesher
- Division of Internal Medicine, Soroka University Medical Center and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel; Infectious Disease Institute, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
| | - Victor Novack
- Division of Internal Medicine, Soroka University Medical Center and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel; Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel; Clinical Research Center, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.
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Betrains A, Moreel L, Mulders-Manders CM, Auwaerter PG, Torné-Cachot J, Weitzer F, Terasawa T, Ly KH, Schönau V, Blockmans D, Wright WF, Rovers C, Vanderschueren S. Comparison of diagnostic spectrum between inflammation of unknown origin and fever of unknown origin: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Intern Med 2024; 124:115-121. [PMID: 38431500 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2024.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with inflammation of unknown origin (IUO) and fever of unknown origin (FUO) are commonly considered a single population. Differences in underlying causes between both groups may steer the diagnostic work-up. METHODS PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from July 2009 through December 2023. Studies including both FUO and IUO patients with a sample size of ≥20 were considered. The primary outcome was the difference in the rate of patients affected by predefined diagnostic categories according to meeting FUO or IUO criteria. Data were pooled using random-effects models. RESULTS A total of 8 studies met criteria for inclusion, with a total of 1452 patients (466 with IUO and 986 with FUO). The median rate of IUO patients among the included studies was 32 % (range 25-39 %). Patients with IUO had a lower likelihood of infection (OR 0.59 [95 % CI; 0.36-0.95]; I2 0 %). There were no significant differences in the rate of noninfectious inflammatory disorders, malignancies, miscellaneous disorders, or remaining undiagnosed. Comparison of diagnostic subgroups revealed that IUO patients were less likely to have systemic autoinflammatory disorders (OR 0.17 [95 % CI, 0.05-0.58]; I2 42 %) and more likely to have vasculitis (OR 2.04 [95 % CI, 1.23-3.38]; I2 21 %) and rheumatoid arthritis or spondylarthritis (OR 3.52 [95 % CI, 1.16-10.69]; I2 0 %). CONCLUSION Based on our findings, there is little reason to assume that FUO and IUO patients would benefit from a different initial diagnostic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albrecht Betrains
- Department of General Internal Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Lien Moreel
- Department of General Internal Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Paul G Auwaerter
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | | | - Friedrich Weitzer
- Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Teruhiko Terasawa
- Department of Emergency and General Internal Medicine, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Japan
| | - Kim H Ly
- Department of Internal Medicine, Limoges University Hospital, Limoges, France
| | - Verena Schönau
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Daniel Blockmans
- Department of General Internal Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - William F Wright
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Chantal Rovers
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Steven Vanderschueren
- Department of General Internal Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Wright WF, Kandiah S, Brady R, Shulkin BL, Palestro CJ, Jain SK. Nuclear Medicine Imaging Tools in Fever of Unknown Origin: Time for a Revisit and Appropriate Use Criteria. Clin Infect Dis 2024; 78:1148-1153. [PMID: 38441140 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciae115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is a clinical conundrum for patients and clinicians alike, and imaging studies are often performed as part of the diagnostic workup of these patients. Recently, the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging convened and approved a guideline on the use of nuclear medicine tools for FUO. The guidelines support the use of 2-18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in adults and children with FUO. 18F-FDG PET/CT allows detection and localization of foci of hypermetabolic lesions with high sensitivity because of the 18F-FDG uptake in glycolytically active cells that may represent inflammation, infection, or neoplasia. Clinicians should consider and insurers should cover 18F-FDG PET/CT when evaluating patients with FUO, particularly when other clinical clues and preliminary studies are unrevealing.
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Affiliation(s)
- William F Wright
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sheetal Kandiah
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Rebecca Brady
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Barry L Shulkin
- Diagnostic Imaging, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Christopher J Palestro
- Department of Radiology, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York, USA
| | - Sanjay K Jain
- Center for Infection and Inflammation Imaging Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Trifonov PI, Koltchakov VK, Mihaylova-Garnizova RP, Yordanov AY, Sokolova L, Nikolov RK, Krastev ZA. Unraveling the mystery of fever of unknown origin: a remarkable journey towards the diagnosis of peripheral T-cell lymphoma-T follicular helper type: A rare case report. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e36974. [PMID: 38241538 PMCID: PMC10798690 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000036974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Fever of unknown origin (FUO) remains one of the most challenging clinical conditions. It demands an exhaustive diagnostic approach, considering its varied etiologies spanning infectious, autoimmune, inflammatory, and malignant causes. PATIENT CONCERNS This report shows the journey of diagnosing a 28-year-old male who presented with persistent fever and lower-extremity weakness over 9 months. Despite seeking care at multiple hospitals, a definitive diagnosis remained elusive. DIAGNOSIS The patient underwent a series of evaluations in various specialties, including gastroenterology, infectious diseases, rheumatology, hematology, and cardiology. Multiple tests and treatments were administered, including antiviral therapy for hepatitis B and antibiotics for suspected infections. INTERVENTIONS After an initial misdiagnosis and unsuccessful treatments, a positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan and lymph node biopsy ultimately led to the diagnosis of peripheral T-cell lymphoma-T follicular helper type (PTCL-TFH) lymphoma. The patient was referred to the hematology clinic and initiated on CHOEP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, etoposide, and prednisone) chemotherapy. OUTCOMES The patient showed a positive response to CHOEP therapy, as indicated by a posttreatment positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan. He reported a significant improvement in his quality of life. Additional rounds of the same regimen were planned to further manage the lymphoma. CONCLUSION This case emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive and persistent diagnostic approach in managing FUO. Initially, the focus on infectious causes led to extensive treatments, but the disease's progression and complications shifted attention to other specialties. The eventual diagnosis of PTCL-TFH lymphoma highlights the significance of advanced imaging techniques and multidisciplinary collaboration in uncovering elusive diagnoses. Thorough surveillance, timely reassessments, and repeated testing can uncover definitive changes critical for diagnosis. PTCL-TFH lymphoma, although rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of FUO, especially when initial evaluations are inconclusive.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Liliya Sokolova
- Clinic of Hematology, UMHAT St. Ivan Rilski, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Rosen K. Nikolov
- Clinic of Gastroenterology, UMHAT St. Ivan Rilski, Sofia, Bulgaria
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Erdem H, Al-Tawfiq JA, Abid M, Yahia WB, Akafity G, Ramadan ME, Amer F, El-Kholy A, Hakamifard A, Rahimi BA, Dayyab F, Caskurlu H, Khedr R, Tahir M, Zambrano L, Khan MA, Raza A, El-Sayed NM, Baymakova M, Yalci A, Cag Y, Elbahr U, Ikram A. Infectious causes of fever of unknown origin in developing countries: An international ID-IRI study. JOURNAL OF INTENSIVE MEDICINE 2024; 4:94-100. [PMID: 38263972 PMCID: PMC10800762 DOI: 10.1016/j.jointm.2023.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Background Fever of unknown origin (FUO) in developing countries is an important dilemma and further research is needed to elucidate the infectious causes of FUO. Methods A multi-center study for infectious causes of FUO in lower middle-income countries (LMIC) and low-income countries (LIC) was conducted between January 1, 2018 and January 1, 2023. In total, 15 participating centers from seven different countries provided the data, which were collected through the Infectious Diseases-International Research Initiative platform. Only adult patients with confirmed infection as the cause of FUO were included in the study. The severity parameters were quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) ≥2, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, vasopressor use, and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Results A total of 160 patients with infectious FUO were included in the study. Overall, 148 (92.5%) patients had community-acquired infections and 12 (7.5%) had hospital-acquired infections. The most common infectious syndromes were tuberculosis (TB) (n=27, 16.9%), infective endocarditis (n=25, 15.6%), malaria (n=21, 13.1%), brucellosis (n=15, 9.4%), and typhoid fever (n=9, 5.6%). Plasmodium falciparum, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Brucellae, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, and Rickettsiae were the leading infectious agents in this study. A total of 56 (35.0%) cases had invasive procedures for diagnosis. The mean qSOFA score was 0.76±0.94 {median (interquartile range [IQR]): 0 (0-1)}. ICU admission (n=26, 16.2%), vasopressor use (n=14, 8.8%), and IMV (n=10, 6.3%) were not rare. Overall, 38 (23.8%) patients had at least one of the severity parameters. The mortality rate was 15 (9.4%), and the mortality was attributable to the infection causing FUO in 12 (7.5%) patients. Conclusions In LMIC and LIC, tuberculosis and cardiac infections were the most severe and the leading infections causing FUO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hakan Erdem
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Clinical Microbiology, Gulhane School of Medicine, Turkish Health Sciences University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Jaffar A. Al-Tawfiq
- Specialty Internal Medicine and Quality and Patient Safety Department, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Maha Abid
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Farhat Hached University Hospital, Ibn El Jazzar Medical School, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Wissal Ben Yahia
- Internal Medicine Department, Farhat Hached University Hospital, Ibn El Jazzar Medical School, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
| | | | | | - Fatma Amer
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Amani El-Kholy
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Atousa Hakamifard
- Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Bilal Ahmad Rahimi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kandahar University Medical Faculty, Teaching Hospital, Kandahar, Afghanistan
| | - Farouq Dayyab
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Mohammed Bn Khalifa Bn Salman Alkhalifa Specialist Cardiac Center, Awali, Bahrain
| | - Hulya Caskurlu
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Reham Khedr
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, National Cancer Institute – Cairo University, Children Cancer Hospital Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Muhammad Tahir
- Department of Medicine, Federal General Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Lysien Zambrano
- Institute for Research in Medical Sciences and Right to Health (ICIMEDES), Scientific Research Unit (UIC), Faculty of Medical Sciences (FCM), National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH), Tegucigalpa, Honduras
| | | | - Aun Raza
- Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center, Lahore, Pakistan
| | | | - Magdalena Baymakova
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Military Medical Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Aysun Yalci
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Clinical Microbiology, Gulhane School of Medicine, Turkish Health Sciences University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Yasemin Cag
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Umran Elbahr
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Bahrain Oncology Center, King Hamad University Hospital, Al Muharraq, Bahrain
| | - Aamer Ikram
- National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan
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Rowe SP, Auwaerter PG, Sheikhbahaei S, Solnes LB, Wright WF. Molecular Imaging of Infections: Emerging Techniques for Pathogen-Specific Diagnosis and Guided Therapy. J Infect Dis 2023; 228:S241-S248. [PMID: 37788504 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Evaluation of patients that may be infected is challenging. Imaging to identify or localize a site of infection is often limited because of the nonspecific nature of the findings on conventional imaging modalities. Available imaging methods lack the ability to determine if antibiotics are reaching the site of infection and are not optimized to follow response to therapy. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a method by which radiolabeled molecules can be used to detect metabolic perturbations or levels of expression of specific targets. The most common PET agent is the glucose analog 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (18F-FDG). 18F-FDG has some applicability to localizing a site of infection, but its lack of specificity limits its usefulness. There is a need for the development of pathogen-specific PET radiotracers to address the imaging shortcomings noted above. Preclinical and clinical progress has been made, but significant challenges remain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven P Rowe
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Paul G Auwaerter
- The Sherrilyn and Ken Fisher Center for Environmental Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sara Sheikhbahaei
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Lilja B Solnes
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - William F Wright
- The Sherrilyn and Ken Fisher Center for Environmental Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Pannu AK, Singla V, Suri V, Kumar R, Mathur Y, Mohindra R, Jain S. Adult-onset Still's disease and fever of unknown origin in India. Clin Exp Med 2023; 23:1659-1666. [PMID: 36178600 PMCID: PMC9523624 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-022-00903-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Despite an essential differential diagnosis for fever of unknown origin (FUO) in young adults, adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is infrequently considered and remained underdiagnosed in low-middle-income countries. The present study analyzed the clinical, serological, radiological, and pathological characteristics of AOSD presented as FUO in India. A hospital-based retrospective study of patients aged > 13 years admitted with FUO and later diagnosed with AOSD in Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh (India), was conducted between January 2014 and December 2020. Petersdorf and Beeson's criteria were used to define FUO. The diagnosis of AOSD was made based on Yamaguchi's criteria. Twenty-seven patients (median age 26 years, 14 females) were enrolled. All presented with intermittent fever with a median duration of 10 weeks. The typical features of AOSD at admission were arthralgia (n = 24), hepatosplenomegaly (n = 21), spiking fever ≥ 39 °C (n = 19), lymphadenopathy (n = 18), typical rash (n = 17), and sore throat (n = 11). Leukocytosis (n = 25) and neutrophilia (n = 19) were frequent. Hyperferritinemia was universal (range, 700-145,003 ng/ml; ≥ 2000, n = 23). At admission, AOSD was suspected in only nine FUO cases, while tuberculosis (n = 16), undifferentiated connective tissue disorder (n = 14), and lymphoproliferative disorder (n = 11) were common diagnostic possibilities. Crispin et al. clinical scale detected AOSD in only 15 (55.5%) FUO patients. Whole-body imaging (n = 27), including fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (n = 12), demonstrated reticuloendothelial organ-system involvement and serositis. Seventeen (63%) patients had macrophage activation syndrome at the time of AOSD diagnosis. AOSD FUO presents with typical but nonspecific features; thus, early differentiation from common causes (e.g., tuberculosis, lymphoma) is difficult. Macrophage activation syndrome is common in AOSD with FUO presentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashok Kumar Pannu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Nehru Hospital, Sector 12, 4th floor, F block, Chandigarh, 160012 India
| | - Vidhi Singla
- Department of Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Nehru Hospital, Sector 12, 4th floor, F block, Chandigarh, 160012 India
| | - Vikas Suri
- Department of Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Nehru Hospital, Sector 12, 4th floor, F block, Chandigarh, 160012 India
| | - Rajender Kumar
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Nehru Hospital, Sector 12, Chandigarh, 160012 India
| | - Yamini Mathur
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Nehru Hospital, Sector 12, Chandigarh, 160012 India
| | - Ritin Mohindra
- Department of Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Nehru Hospital, Sector 12, 4th floor, F block, Chandigarh, 160012 India
| | - Sanjay Jain
- Department of Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Nehru Hospital, Sector 12, 4th floor, F block, Chandigarh, 160012 India
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Erdem H, Baymakova M, Alkan S, Letaief A, Yahia WB, Dayyab F, Kolovani E, Grgic S, Cosentino F, Hasanoglu I, Khedr R, Marino A, Pekok AU, Eser F, Arapovic J, Guner HR, Miftode IL, Poposki K, Sanlidag G, Tahmaz A, Sipahi OR, Miftode EG, Oncu S, Cagla-Sonmezer M, Addepalli SK, Darazam IA, Kumari HP, Koc MM, Kumar MR, Sayana SB, Wegdan AA, Amer F, Ceylan MR, El-Kholy A, Onder T, Tehrani HA, Hakamifard A, Kayaaslan B, Shehata G, Caskurlu H, El-Sayed NM, Mortazavi SE, Pourali M, Elbahr U, Kulzhanova S, Yetisyigit T, Saad SA, Cag Y, Eser-Karlidag G, Pshenichnaya N, Belitova M, Akhtar N, Al-Majid F, Ayhan M, Khan MA, Lanzafame M, Makek MJ, Nsutebu E, Cascio A, Dindar-Demiray EK, Evren EU, Kalas R, Kalem AK, Baljić R, Ikram A, Kaya S, Liskova A, Szabo BG, Rahimi BA, Mutlu-Yilmaz E, Sener A, Rello J. Classical fever of unknown origin in 21 countries with different economic development: an international ID-IRI study. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2023; 42:387-398. [PMID: 36790531 PMCID: PMC9930069 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-023-04561-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is a serious challenge for physicians. The aim of the present study was to consider epidemiology and dynamics of FUO in countries with different economic development. The data of FUO patients hospitalized/followed between 1st July 2016 and 1st July 2021 were collected retrospectively and submitted from referral centers in 21 countries through ID-IRI clinical research platform. The countries were categorized into developing (low-income (LI) and lower middle-income (LMI) economies) and developed countries (upper middle-income (UMI) and high-income (HI) economies). This research included 788 patients. FUO diagnoses were as follows: infections (51.6%; n = 407), neoplasms (11.4%, n = 90), collagen vascular disorders (9.3%, n = 73), undiagnosed (20.1%, n = 158), miscellaneous diseases (7.7%, n = 60). The most common infections were tuberculosis (n = 45, 5.7%), brucellosis (n = 39, 4.9%), rickettsiosis (n = 23, 2.9%), HIV infection (n = 20, 2.5%), and typhoid fever (n = 13, 1.6%). Cardiovascular infections (n = 56, 7.1%) were the most common infectious syndromes. Only collagen vascular disorders were reported significantly more from developed countries (RR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.19-3.38). FUO had similar characteristics in LI/LMI and UMI/HI countries including the portion of undiagnosed cases (OR, 95% CI; 0.87 (0.65-1.15)), death attributed to FUO (RR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.65-1.15, p-value = 0.3355), and the mean duration until diagnosis (p = 0.9663). Various aspects of FUO cannot be determined by the economic development solely. Other development indices can be considered in future analyses. Physicians in different countries should be equally prepared for FUO patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hakan Erdem
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Clinical Microbiology, Gulhane School of Medicine, Turkish Health Sciences University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Magdalena Baymakova
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Military Medical Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Sevil Alkan
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Onsekiz Mart University School of Medicine, Canakkale, Turkey
| | - Amel Letaief
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Farhat Hached University Hospital, Ibn El Jazzar Medical School, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Wissal Ben Yahia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Farhat Hached University Hospital, Ibn El Jazzar Medical School, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Farouq Dayyab
- Department of Internal Medicine, King Hamad University Hospital, Al Sayh, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Entela Kolovani
- Infectious Disease Clinic, University Hospital Center 'Mother Theresa', Tirana, Albania
| | - Svjetlana Grgic
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Clinical Hospital Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Federica Cosentino
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Unit of Infectious Diseases, ARNAS Garibaldi Hospital, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Imran Hasanoglu
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Clinical Microbiology, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Reham Khedr
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, National Cancer Institute - Cairo University, Children Cancer Hospital Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Andrea Marino
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Unit of Infectious Diseases, ARNAS Garibaldi Hospital, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | | | - Fatma Eser
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Clinical Microbiology, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Jurica Arapovic
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Clinical Hospital Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Hatice Rahmet Guner
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Clinical Microbiology, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | | | - Kostadin Poposki
- Faculty of Medicine, University Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Conditions, Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
| | - Gamze Sanlidag
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Clinical Microbiology, Ege School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Alper Tahmaz
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Clinical Microbiology, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Oguz Resat Sipahi
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Clinical Microbiology, Ege School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey
| | | | - Serkan Oncu
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey
| | - Meliha Cagla-Sonmezer
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Clinical Microbiology, Hacettepe School of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Syam Kumar Addepalli
- Department of Pharmacology, GITAM Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Ilad Alavi Darazam
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hema Prakash Kumari
- Department of Microbiology, GITAM Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Meliha Meriç Koc
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Meela Ranjith Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College &, Government General Hospital, Suryapet, Telangana, India
| | - Suresh Babu Sayana
- Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College, Suryapet, Telangana, India
| | - Ahmed Ashraf Wegdan
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt
| | - Fatma Amer
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Mehmet Resat Ceylan
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Harran University, Sanliurfa, Turkey
| | - Amani El-Kholy
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Taylan Onder
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Onsekiz Mart University School of Medicine, Canakkale, Turkey
| | - Hamed Azhdari Tehrani
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Atousa Hakamifard
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bircan Kayaaslan
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Clinical Microbiology, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | | | - Hulya Caskurlu
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | | | - Seyed Erfan Mortazavi
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Pourali
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Umran Elbahr
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Bahrain Oncology Center, King Hamad University Hospital, Busaiteen, Bahrain
| | - Sholpan Kulzhanova
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Astana Medical University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
| | - Tarkan Yetisyigit
- Department of Oncology, Bahrain Oncology Center, King Hamad University Hospital, Busaiteen, Bahrain
| | - Sahar Ahmed Saad
- Department of Rheumatology, King Hamad Univesity Hospital, Al Sayh, Bahrain
| | - Yasemin Cag
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Gulden Eser-Karlidag
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, University of Health Sciences, Elazig Fethi Sekin City Hospital, Elazig, Turkey
| | | | | | - Nasim Akhtar
- Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, G-8/3, Pakistan
| | - Fahad Al-Majid
- Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Division, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muge Ayhan
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Clinical Microbiology, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | | | | | | | - Emmanuel Nsutebu
- Tropical and Infectious Diseases Division, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Antonio Cascio
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE) - Infectious Disease Unit, Policlinico 'P. Giaccone', University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Emine Unal Evren
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Kyrenia, Kyrenia, Cyprus
| | - Rama Kalas
- Internal Medicine Division, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ayşe Kaya Kalem
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Clinical Microbiology, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | | | - Aamer Ikram
- National Institutes of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Selcuk Kaya
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Karadeniz Technical University School of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey
| | - Anna Liskova
- Hospital Nitra, St. Elisabeth University of Health Care and Social Work, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Balint Gergely Szabo
- South Pest Central Hospital, National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Bilal Ahmad Rahimi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kandahar University Medical Faculty, Teaching Hospital, Kandahar, Afghanistan
| | - Esmeray Mutlu-Yilmaz
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Clinical Microbiology, Samsun Training and Research Hospital, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Alper Sener
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Onsekiz Mart University School of Medicine, Canakkale, Turkey
| | - Jordi Rello
- Clinical Research and Epidemiology in Pneumonia and Sepsis, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain
- Clinical Research, CHRU Nîmes, Nîmes, France
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Wright WF, Wang J, Auwaerter PG. Investigator-Determined Categories for Fever of Unknown Origin (FUO) Compared With International Classification of Diseases-10 Classification of Illness: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis With a Proposal for Revised FUO Classification. Open Forum Infect Dis 2023; 10:ofad104. [PMID: 36949875 PMCID: PMC10026547 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Classifying fever of unknown origin (FUO) into categorical etiologies (ie, infections, noninfectious inflammatory, oncologic, miscellaneous, and undiagnosed disorders) remains unstandardized and subject to discrepancies. As some disease classifications change, a systematic review of studies would help physicians anticipate the frequency of illness types they may encounter that could influence care. Methods We systematically reviewed prospective FUO studies published across the Medline (PubMed), Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases from January 1, 1997, to July 31, 2022. We performed a meta-analysis to estimate associated pooled proportions between the investigator-determined choice of disease category and those determined by the International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition (ICD-10), methodology. Results The proportion of patients with a difference between the investigator and ICD-10-adjusted noninfectious inflammatory disorder category was 1.2% (95% CI, 0.005-0.021; P < .001), and the proportion was similar for the miscellaneous category at 1.5% (95% CI, 0.007-0.025; P < .001). The miscellaneous and noninfectious inflammatory disorders categories demonstrated significant across-study heterogeneity in the proportions of patients changing categories, with 52.7% (P = .007) and 51.0% (P = .010) I2 , respectively. Conclusions Adjusting FUO-associated diagnoses by ICD-10 methodology was associated with a statistically significant risk of over- or underestimation of disease category frequency approximation when using a 5 FUO category system. An FUO diagnostic classification system that better reflects mechanistic understanding would assist future research and enhance comparability across heterogenous populations and different geographic regions. We propose an updated FUO classification scheme that streamlines categorizations, aligns with the current understanding of disease mechanisms, and should facilitate empirical decisions, if necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- William F Wright
- Correspondence: William F. Wright, DO, MPH, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205 (); or Paul G. Auwaerter, MD, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205 ()
| | - Jiangxia Wang
- Johns Hopkins Biostatistics Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Lawal IO, Abubakar S, Ankrah AO, Sathekge MM. Molecular Imaging of Tuberculosis. Semin Nucl Med 2023; 53:37-56. [PMID: 35882621 DOI: 10.1053/j.semnuclmed.2022.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Despite the introduction of many novel diagnostic techniques and newer treatment agents, tuberculosis (TB) remains a major cause of death from an infectious disease worldwide. With about a quarter of humanity harboring Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB, the current efforts geared towards reducing the scourge due to TB must be sustained. At the same time, newer alternative modalities for diagnosis and treatment response assessment are considered. Molecular imaging entails the use of radioactive probes that exploit molecular targets expressed by microbes or human cells for imaging using hybrid scanners that provide both anatomic and functional features of the disease being imaged. Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is the most investigated radioactive probe for TB imaging in research and clinical practice. When imaged with positron emission tomography interphase with computed tomography (PET/CT), FDG PET/CT performs better than sputum conversion for predicting treatment outcome. At the end of treatment, FDG PET/CT has demonstrated the unique ability to identify a subset of patients declared cured based on the current standard of care but who still harbor live bacilli capable of causing disease relapse after therapy discontinuation. Our understanding of the pathogenesis and evolution of TB has improved significantly in the last decade, owing to the introduction of FDG PET/CT in TB research. FDG is a non-specific probe as it targets the host inflammatory response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is not specifically different in TB compared with other infectious conditions. Ongoing efforts are geared towards evaluating the utility of newer probes targeting different components of the TB granuloma, the hallmark of TB lesions, including hypoxia, neovascularization, and fibrosis, in TB management. The most exciting category of non-FDG PET probes developed for molecular imaging of TB appears to be radiolabeled anti-tuberculous drugs for use in studying the pharmacokinetic characteristics of the drugs. This allows for the non-invasive study of drug kinetics in different body compartments concurrently, providing an insight into the spatial heterogeneity of drug exposure in different TB lesions. The ability to repeat molecular imaging using radiolabeled anti-tuberculous agents also offers an opportunity to study the temporal changes in drug kinetics within the different lesions during treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismaheel O Lawal
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA; Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
| | - Sofiullah Abubakar
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Sultan Qaboos Comprehensive Cancer Care and Research Center, Muscat, Oman
| | - Alfred O Ankrah
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa; National Center for Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana; Medical Imaging Center, Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Mike M Sathekge
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa; Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI), Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
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