The significance of IP-10 level in blood serum for TB diagnosis in patients with late-stage HIV infection

<b>Introduction:</b> The informativity of immunological methods of TB diagnosis depends on immunodeficiency severity. The significance of determination of chemokine IP-10 (CXCL-10) in blood serum for laboratory diagnosis of TB is known, but scarcely studied in cases of TB/HIV co-infection, especially in late-stage HIV infection. <b>Aim:</b> To determine the significant level of serum IP-10 for TB diagnosis in patients with late-stage HIV infection. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> We studied 35 patients with late-stage HIV infection: 16 4B-stage patients and 19 4C-stage patients (as per Russian classification). Among them were 23 men and 12 women aged 19-62. We conducted laboratory, radiology, microbiology (microscopy, PCR, BACTEC) studies. Sixty-five patients (61.3%) had CD4 counts less than 100 cells/mcL, 12 patients (11.3%) – from 100 to 200 cells/mcL, and 29 patients (27.45) – more than 200 cells/mcL. Chemokine IP-10 was determined in the blood serum by enzyme-linked immunoassay using the DuoSet Human IP-10 R@D kit (UK). <b>Results:</b> Out of 35 patients with late-stage HIV infection 21 (60%) were diagnosed with TB, and 14 (40%) – other pulmonary diseases. The level of IP-10 in the blood serum from HIV/TB patients was 2055.88 ± 378.6 pg/ml (CI±742.06 pg/ml) and was higher than in HIV patients, whose level was 956.74 ± 142.8 pg/ml (CI±279.9 pg/ml; Р=0.013747). <b>Conclusion:</b> The level of chemokine IP-10 in blood serum of more than 1236.64 pg/ml witnesses TB in patients with late-stage HIV infection.