Testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection using the QuantiFERON-TB GOLD assay in patients with comorbid conditions in a tertiary care endemic setting

Table 4 Co-morbid conditions present in QFT positive study subjects

Co-Morbid	N (%)	TB Ag (IFNγ IU/ml, Median)	Mitogen (IFNγ IU/ml, Median)	TLC (10 e3/L)	Lympho (%)
No Known comorbids	35 (62.5)	4.68	10	7.8	22.4
Diabetes	7 (12.5)	1.82	10	9.3	15.9^#
Malignancy	4 (7)	1.975	2.96	11.3*	44.35
Achlasis	1 (1.8)	0.59	2.47	6.2	38
Chronic Kidney disease	2 (3.6)	5.91	4.795	8.8	23.3
Epilepsy	1 (1.8)	1.59	10	7	23.4
Multiple comorbids	6 (10.7)	1.51	5.78	8.2	20.5

‘TLC’, total lymphocytes count; ‘QFT’, Quantiferon-Gold in Tube assay (Cellestis, Germany). QFT results for TB antigen (TB Ag) and Mitogen are provided. Cut-off for QFT positive ≥0.35 IU/ml. ‘*’ Denotes values greater than the normal range; ‘#’ Denotes values less than the normal range. Lymphopenia defined as lymphocytes < 1500 cells/mm3. ‘#’ patients with multiple co-morbids including, diabetes, chronic liver disease, chronic kidney disease, endocrine disorders (panhypo-pitutiarism, hypothyroidism, thalassemia and malignancy)

ISSN: 2055-0936