Biochemia Medica, Vol. 18 No. 1, 2008.
Original scientific paper
C-reactive protein and complement components' C3 and C4 in children with latent tuberculosis infection
Slavica Dodig
Daniela Galez
Ivka Zoričić-Letoja
Branka Kristić-Kirin
Kornelija Kovač
Boro Nogalo
Jadranka Živčić
Renata Zrinski-Topić
Abstract
Aim: Recently, hsCRP (high sensitive CRP) concentration has been used as a prognostic marker of chronic inflammation. The aim of the study was to determine whether two-month isoniazid prophylaxis induced changes in serum concentrations of hsCRP, C3 and C4 in children with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI).
Subjects and methods: The study included 79 children divided into three groups: 1) subjects with LTBI; 2) subjects with lung tuberculosis; and 3) control group of clinically healthy subjects, referred for systematic examination, with biochemistry-hematology parameters within reference range for age. Blood sampling was performed twice: before drug administration and after a two-month period during which drugs were administered on a daily basis; hsCRP, C3 and C4 were determined by use of immunoassays.
Results: Before prophylactic isoniazid therapy induction, the concentrations of hsCRP, C3 and C4 were significantly higher in LTBI group as compared with control group. After prophylactic therapy, the concentration of hsCRP in LTBI was lower than before isoniazid administration. The specificity was greater than sensitivity for all study analytes. The cut-off value of hsCRP showed higher optimum diagnostic efficiency than the cut-off values of C3 and C4.
Conclusion: The concentration of hsCRP can be used in the follow up of LTBI patients to evaluate response to isoniazid prophylaxis and the level of disease activity.
Keywords
child; complement C3; complement C4; C-reactive protein; latent tuberculosis infection; tuberculosis
Hrčak ID:
20207
URI
Publication date:
18.2.2008.
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