Article

Diagnostic value of interferon-gamma in tuberculous pleurisy: a metaanalysis.

Institute of Respiratory Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
Chest (impact factor: 5.25). 04/2007; 131(4):1133-41. DOI:10.1378/chest.06-2273
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Conventional tests are not always helpful in making a diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy. Many studies have investigated the usefulness of interferon (IFN)-gamma measurements in pleural fluid for the early diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy. We conducted a metaanalysis to determine the accuracy of IFN-gamma measurements in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy.
After a systematic review of English-language studies, sensitivity, specificity, and other measures of accuracy of IFN-gamma concentrations in the diagnosis of pleural effusion were pooled using random-effects models. Summary receiver operating characteristic curves were used to summarize overall test performance.
Twenty-two studies met our inclusion criteria. The summary estimates for IFN-gamma in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy in the studies included were as follows: sensitivity, 0.89 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.87 to 0.91); specificity, 0.97 (95% CI, 0.96 to 0.98); positive likelihood ratio, 23.45 (95% CI, 17.31 to 31.78); negative likelihood ratio, 0.11 (95% CI, 0.07 to 0.16); and diagnostic odds ratio, 272.7 (95% CI, 147.5 to 504.2).
IFN-gamma determination is a sensitive and specific test for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy. The measurement of IFN-gamma levels in pleural effusions is thus likely to be a useful tool for diagnosing tuberculous pleurisy. The results of IFN-gamma assays should be interpreted in parallel with clinical findings and the results of conventional tests.

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Keywords

95% confidence interval [CI]
 
characteristic curves
 
conventional tests
 
English-language studies
 
IFN)-gamma measurements
 
IFN-gamma assays
 
IFN-gamma levels
 
IFN-gamma measurements
 
negative likelihood ratio
 
pleural effusion
 
pleural effusions
 
pleural fluid
 
positive likelihood ratio
 
random-effects models
 
specific test
 
Summary receiver
 
test performance
 
tuberculous pleurisy
 
useful tool
 
usefulness
 

Jing Jiang