Interferon γ Release Test Combined with Pleural Effusion TB-RNA Detection to Improve the Diagnostic Efficiency of Tuberculous Pleural Effusion

Background: To investigate the role of tuberculosis infection interferon-γ release assay (TB-IGRA) combined with pleural effusion TB-RNA (tuberculosis RNA detection) detection in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion. Method: In this observational study, serum TB-IGRA and pleural effusion with TB-RNA were detected in patients with tuberculous and malignant pleural effusion, respectively, and the diagnostic effects of the two groups of patients were compared. Result: The content of pleural globulin in the tuberculous pleural effusion group was higher than that in the malignant pleural effusion group;The difference was significant (t = 2.03, p = 0.04). The serum IFN-γ (interferon-gamma) content in patients who were in the tuberculous pleural effusion group was significantly higher than that in the malignant pleural effusion group;The positive rate of TB-IGRA combined with TB-RNA was 97.5% in the tuberculous pleural effusion group and 14.5% in the malignant pleural effusion group;The diagnostic sensitivity of TB-IGRA was significantly better than that of TB-RNA, and the specificity was significantly lower than that of TB-RNA;The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of TB-IGRA combined with TB-RNA was considerably higher than that of TB-RNA alone, and these differences were statistically significant ( p < 0.05). Conclusions: The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of TB-IGRA combined with TB-RNA in diagnosing tuberculous pleural effusion are high, and its application may prevent some missed diagnoses of complicated pleural effusion.