The Diagnostic and prognostic value of CXCL12 (SDF-1α) level in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and disease.

Introduction: New diagnostic tools are being investigated for rapid and accurate TB detection. We aimed to find out the diagnostic yield and accuracy of chemokine CXCL12 (SDF-1a) levels in diagnosing active TB (aTB) and making a differential diagnosis from other several infectious/non-infectious pulmonary conditions.

Methodology: We collected demographic, clinic features and studied plasma CXCL12 levels using ELISA kit of the participants, classified into five categories: aTB (n = 30); cured TB (cTB, n = 15); close contacts of aTB (CC, n = 15); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with active nonspecific pulmonary infection (infCOPD, n = 15); and healthy controls (HC, n = 15).

[Very rare presentation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis: primary gastric tuberculosis].

The most common site for gastrointestinal involvement in tuberculosis is the ileocecal region. Tuberculosis of stomach is quite uncommon. It is usually associated with pulmonary tuberculosis or with immunodeficiency.

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha in comparison to adenosine deaminase in tuberculous pleuritis.

Background: Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is already used for the differential diagnosis of tuberculosis pleurisy. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) is another marker which has been investigated for this purpose.

Objective: We evaluated the diagnostic value of pleural fluid and serum TNF concentrations in tuberculous pleuritis and compared them to ADA.