The Diagnostic Value of Blood and Urine IP-10 Test in Children Having Active Tuberculosis or Latent Tuberculosis Infection

Objective This study aimed to investigate interferon-gamma-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) values in serum and urine in pediatric patients in the diagnosis of active tuberculosis (TB) or latent TB infection (LTBI). It also aimed to investigate whether it can be used as a biomarker to distinguish between active TB and LTBI. Methods Our study comprised active TB (25 patients), LTBI (25 patients), and the “infected” group (50 patients) formed by combining the two groups. As the control group, 37 healthy children were included in the study. TB skin test, plasma IP-10, and urine IP-10 measurements were performed in all patients included in the study. An additional QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) test was performed on patients evaluated as active TB or LTBI. Results Plasma IP-10 levels of the patients in the active TB, LTBI, and the “infected” groups were significantly higher than the control group (p = 0.022, p = 0.028, and p = 0.007, respectively). Urine IP-10 was successful in distinguishing the active TB and “infected” groups from the control group (p = 0.007 and p = 0.047, respectively). Also, in the combined use of the tests, when QFT-GIT and urine IP-10 were positive together, active TB and LTBI could be distinguished (p = 0.044). Urine IP-10 levels were found to be significantly higher in those with pulmonary TB than those with extrapulmonary TB (p = 0.012). Conclusion Our findings suggest that IP-10 can be used as a useful biomarker in the diagnosis of active TB in children.