Authors: H. Grubek-Jaworska¹; Z. Zwolska²; P. Droszcz¹; L. Rybus¹; A. Dabrowski¹; W. Droszcz¹

Source: The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 1, Number 6, December 1997 , pp. 556-562(7)

Publisher: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

Abstract:

SETTING: The ELISA test is generally accepted for sero-diagnosis of tuberculosis. Its sensitivity and specificity depend on the antigen used and data are not always concordant. In some patients suspected of tuberculosis, sarcoidosis or lung cancer, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is performed. BAL fluid (BALF) contains immunoglobulins—their source is transudation from the serum but local IgG synthesis of IgG is not excluded.

OBJECTIVE: The comparison of BALF versus serum in the serodiagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, and its differentiation from sarcoidosis and lung cancer.

DESIGN: The IgG against A60 and 38 kDa antigens in serum and BALF were measured using the commercially available IgG EIA kits. The study included 13 tuberculous patients, 8 patients with sarcoidosis, 10 patients with lung cancer and 9 healthy volunteers.

RESULTS: In the serum studies the sensitivity of the assays did not exceed 40% and 60% in the estimation of IgG 38 kDa and IgG A60, respectively. The specificity of both assays was similar: 81% (IgG 38 kDa) and 69–75% (IgG A60). In BALF studies the sensitivity of the IgG 38 kDa assay was 50% and its specificity was 44%. The ranges of the IgG A60 concentrations in BALF were similar in all subject groups.

CONCLUSION: In differentiation between tuberculosis, sarcoidosis and lung cancer, the measurement of IgG against A60 and 38 kDa antigens in serum is more useful than that in BALF.

Keywords: pulmonary tuberculosis; BAL fluid; A60-specific IgG; 38 kDa-specific IgG

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Department of Pneumology, Warsaw Medical School, Warsaw, Poland 2: Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Warsaw, Poland

Publication date: 1997-12-01

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• The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease publishes articles on all aspects of lung health, including public health-related issues such as training programmes, cost-benefit analysis, legislation, epidemiology, intervention studies and health systems research. The IJTLD is dedicated to the continuing education of physicians and health personnel and the dissemination of information on tuberculosis and lung health world-wide.

  Certain IJTLD articles are selected for translation into French, Spanish, Chinese or Russian. They are available on the Union website

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