Utility of in vitro interferon-γ release assay in differential diagnosis between intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn's disease.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the diagnostic utility of interferon-γ release assay (T-SPOT.TB) for the differential diagnosis between Crohn's disease (CD) and intestinal tuberculosis (ITB).

METHODS:

A total of 103 CD and 88 ITB patients, confirmed by histology and anti-tuberculosis treatment response from 2003 to 2011, were included. Their characteristics and clinical features were recorded. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of IS6110, in vitro T-SPOT.TB, tuberculin skin test (TST), immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody to MTB (protein chip), serum anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA IgG, chronic inflammatory bowel disease profile) and acid-fast staining of biopsied colonic tissue specimens were performed. Statistical analysis was conducted to determine their concordance with the diagnosis and its sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV).

RESULTS:

Abnormal pulmonary X-ray, ascites and lesions of both cecum and ascending colon were more associated with ITB, while intestinal surgery and lesions of both ileum and adjacent colon were more commonly seen in CD. Significant diagnostic concordance was found using T-SPOT.TB (κ = 0.786) by consistency test. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of T-SPOT.TB were 86%, 93%, 88% and 91%, respectively, and the sensitivity and NPV were significantly higher than other examinations (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

T-SPOT.TB is a valuable assay in differentiating ITB from CD, particularly in the diagnostic exclusion of ITB based on its high specificity and NPV.

• Authors: Yuan Lei, Feng Ming Yi, Jie Zhao, Rishi Vishal Luckheeram, Sha Huang, Min Chen, Mei Fang Huang, Jin Li, Rui Zhou, Gui Fang Yang, Bing Xia
• Journal: Journal of digestive diseases (J Dig Dis) Vol. 14 Issue 2 Pg. 68-75 (Feb 2013) ISSN: 1751-2980 [Electronic] Australia
• PMID: 23176201 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2012 The Authors. Journal of Digestive Diseases © 2012 Chinese Medical Association Shanghai Branch, Chinese Society of Gastroenterology, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Bacterial
• Antibodies, Fungal
• Coloring Agents
• DNA, Bacterial
• Immunoglobulin G

Topics

• Adult
• Antibodies, Bacterial (blood)
• Antibodies, Fungal (blood)
• Ascites (etiology)
• Biopsy
• Colon (microbiology, pathology)
• Coloring Agents
• Crohn Disease (complications, diagnosis, pathology)
• DNA, Bacterial (analysis)
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Female
• Humans
• Ileum (pathology)
• Immunoglobulin G (blood)
• Interferon-gamma Release Tests
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mycobacterium tuberculosis (genetics, immunology)
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Protein Array Analysis
• Radiography
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae (immunology)
• Tuberculin Test
• Tuberculosis, Gastrointestinal (complications, diagnosis, pathology)
• Tuberculosis, Pulmonary (diagnostic imaging)
• Young Adult