RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Tuberculosis treatment effect on T-cell interferon-γ responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigens JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP 355 OP 361 DO 10.1183/09031936.00151309 VO 36 IS 2 A1 C.B.E. Chee A1 K.W. Khinmar A1 S.H. Gan A1 T.M. Barkham A1 C.K. Koh A1 L. Shen A1 Y.T. Wang YR 2010 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/36/2/355.abstract AB The hypothesis that T-cell interferon-γ responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigens decline as disease activity diminishes with tuberculosis (TB) treatment has generated interest in the interferon-γ release assays (IGRAs) as treatment-monitoring tools. We studied the effect of TB treatment on these responses as measured by the QuantiFERON-TB® Gold In-tube (QFT-IT) and T-SPOT.TB® assays. 275 sputum culture-positive, HIV-uninfected pulmonary TB patients were tested with QFT-IT and T-SPOT.TB® at baseline, treatment completion and 6 months thereafter. The QFT-IT was also performed at the end of the intensive phase. The time-treatment effect on the qualitative and quantitative IGRA results was determined. There were significant declines in the positivity rates and quantitative results of both IGRAs with treatment. The QFT-IT positivity rate was significantly lower than the T-SPOT.TB®. The test reversion rate was significantly different for the two assays (13.9% for T-SPOT.TB® versus 39.2% for QFT-IT). 79% and 46% tested positive with T-SPOT.TB® and QFT-IT respectively at 6 months post-treatment completion. The kinetics of the quantitative responses was not significantly different between subjects with and without risk factors for disease relapse. That a substantial proportion of patients remained test-positive after TB treatment would suggest a limited role of IGRAs as treatment monitoring tools.