Dataset Information

Tuberculosis Specific Interferon-Gamma Production in a Current Refugee Cohort in Western Europe.

ABSTRACT: In 2015, a high number of refugees with largely unknown health statuses immigrated to Western Europe. To improve caretaking strategies, we assessed the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in a refugee cohort.Interferon-Gamma release assays (IGRA, Quantiferon) were performed in n = 232 inhabitants of four German refugee centers in the summer of 2015.Most refugees were young, male adults. Overall, IGRA testing was positive in 17.9% (95% CI = 13.2?23.5%) of subjects. Positivity rates increased with age (0% <18 years versus 46.2% >50 years). Age was the only factor significantly associated with a positive IGRA in multiple regression analysis including gender, C reactive protein, hemoglobin, leukocyte, and thrombocyte count and lymphocyte, monocyte, neutrophil, basophil, and eosinophil fraction. For one year change in age, the odds are expected to be 1.06 times larger, holding all other variables constant (p = 0.015).Observed LTBI frequencies are lower than previously reported in similar refugee cohorts. However, as elderly people are at higher risk for developing active tuberculosis, the observed high rate of LTBI in senior refugees emphasizes the need for new policies on the detection and treatment regimens in this group.

SUBMITTER: Jablonka A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6025316 | biostudies-other | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Tuberculosis Specific Interferon-Gamma Production in a Current Refugee Cohort in Western Europe.

Jablonka Alexandra A Dopfer Christian C Happle Christine C Sogkas Georgios G Ernst Diana D Atschekzei Faranaz F Hirsch Stefanie S Schäll Annabelle A Jirmo Adan A Solbach Philipp P Schmidt Reinhold Ernst RE Behrens Georg M N GMN Wetzke Martin M

International journal of environmental research and public health 20180614 6

<h4>Background</h4>In 2015, a high number of refugees with largely unknown health statuses immigrated to Western Europe. To improve caretaking strategies, we assessed the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in a refugee cohort.<h4>Methods</h4>Interferon-Gamma release assays (IGRA, Quantiferon) were performed in <i>n</i> = 232 inhabitants of four German refugee centers in the summer of 2015.<h4>Results</h4>Most refugees were young, male adults. Overall, IGRA testing was positive in ...[more]

PMID: 29904012

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Project description:BackgroundAlthough persistent tuberculosis (TB) infection is known to cause calcification in the lungs, the relationship between intrathoracic calcification and the results of the interferon-γ release assay (IGRA) has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to assess the association between intrathoracic calcification and IGRA results.MethodsWe retrospectively included consecutive patients who concurrently underwent chest X-ray, chest computed tomography (CT), and an IGRA. Patients with a current diagnosis of active TB or treatment history of active TB or latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) were excluded. The association between calcification according to the chest X-ray or CT and IGRA results were analyzed using binomial logistic regression.ResultsThis study included 574 patients, and 38 (7%) patients had a positive IGRA result. Patients with a positive result were significantly older and had a higher proportion of comorbidities, and history of tuberculosis exposure compared to those with a negative result. Calcification of the lung field and mediastinal lymph nodes according to chest CT was more frequently observed in patients with a positive IGRA result, whereas no significant difference was observed concerning the proportion of lung field calcification on chest X-ray between patients with positive and negative IGRA results. In multivariate analysis, calcification of mediastinal lymph nodes alone (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 3.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.76-8.26) and the combination of lung field and mediastinal lymph node calcification (adjusted OR = 4.12, 95% CI = 1.51-11.76) on chest CT was independently associated with positive IGRA results.ConclusionsThe finding of mediastinal lymph node calcification, with or without lung field calcification, on chest CT was associated with positive IGRA results independent of TB exposure history. Previous TB infection including eliminated TB infection and LTBI can be suspected when calcified lymph nodes in are observed the mediastinum on chest CT.

Dataset Information

Tuberculosis Specific Interferon-Gamma Production in a Current Refugee Cohort in Western Europe.

Publications

Tuberculosis Specific Interferon-Gamma Production in a Current Refugee Cohort in Western Europe.

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