Positive QuantiFERON test and the severity of COVID-19 disease: A prospective study.
COVID-19
IGRA
Mycobacteria
QuantiFERRON
Salmonella
Journal
The Indian journal of tuberculosis
ISSN: 0019-5707
Titre abrégé: Indian J Tuberc
Pays: India
ID NLM: 0373027
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Oct 2021
Oct 2021
Historique:
received:
28
10
2020
accepted:
09
12
2020
entrez:
9
11
2021
pubmed:
10
11
2021
medline:
16
11
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
A strong negative correlation is reported between the Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) index and COVID-19 mortality. The present study explored if frequent exposure to strong Th1 antigens like Mycobacteria or Salmonella have any effect on the progression of the disease in COVID-19 patients. This prospective comparative study comprised of 3 groups of 20 each of mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 patients (A), severely ill patients (S) and healthy volunteers with a COVID Negative report (H). QuantiFERON TB Gold (QFT) which is interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) against Mtb antigen was used to quantify immunity status of patients against the tuberculosis. Group S showed positive QFT in only 15% patients as against 50% QFT positive patients in group A and H. All fourteen patients in group S with QFT negative report died while 5 of six survived patients showed positive QFT report either on initial or repeat testing done at 6 weeks. The sixth survived patient was QFT negative but showed high antibody titre against H antigen (TH) on Widal test. All severely ill group S patients showed huge reduction of IGRA even to the mitogen stimulus thus suggesting gross general unresponsiveness of T cells. Presence of BCG scar showed no correlation with prevalence or progression of the disease. Population in an endemic area of tuberculosis and typhoid with good community exposure to these antigen is likely to withstand COVID -19 better and show reduced mortality following it.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
A strong negative correlation is reported between the Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) index and COVID-19 mortality. The present study explored if frequent exposure to strong Th1 antigens like Mycobacteria or Salmonella have any effect on the progression of the disease in COVID-19 patients.
METHODS
METHODS
This prospective comparative study comprised of 3 groups of 20 each of mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 patients (A), severely ill patients (S) and healthy volunteers with a COVID Negative report (H).
RESULTS
RESULTS
QuantiFERON TB Gold (QFT) which is interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) against Mtb antigen was used to quantify immunity status of patients against the tuberculosis. Group S showed positive QFT in only 15% patients as against 50% QFT positive patients in group A and H. All fourteen patients in group S with QFT negative report died while 5 of six survived patients showed positive QFT report either on initial or repeat testing done at 6 weeks. The sixth survived patient was QFT negative but showed high antibody titre against H antigen (TH) on Widal test. All severely ill group S patients showed huge reduction of IGRA even to the mitogen stimulus thus suggesting gross general unresponsiveness of T cells. Presence of BCG scar showed no correlation with prevalence or progression of the disease.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
Population in an endemic area of tuberculosis and typhoid with good community exposure to these antigen is likely to withstand COVID -19 better and show reduced mortality following it.
Identifiants
pubmed: 34752316
pii: S0019-5707(21)00034-2
doi: 10.1016/j.ijtb.2020.12.013
pmc: PMC7927586
pii:
doi:
Substances chimiques
Antigens, Bacterial
0
H antigen
0
Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens
144058-44-6
Types de publication
Comparative Study
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
474-480Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2021 Tuberculosis Association of India. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Conflicts of interest The authors have none to declare
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