Highlights
- •QFT reversion was frequently observed in serial tests.
- •Summarized QFT reversion rates were found to be similar among individuals with and without preventive treatment.
- •Serial QFT testing might be inappropriate for evaluating preventive treatment efficacy.
Summary
Objectives
Reversion of tuberculosis (TB) infection testing has been suggested to be associated
with prophylactic treatment efficacy. However, evidences based on randomized controlled
study were sparse.
Methods
Studies on serial QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT) test, among individuals with and
without prophylactic treatment were identified in the databases of PubMed, MEDLINE
and EMBASE up to 28 February 2018. The reversion rates were quantitatively summarized
by means of meta-analysis using the random-effect model.
Results
A total of 52 eligible studies were included in the meta-analysis on QFT test reversion
rate among participants with (20 studies) and without (32 studies) prophylactic treatment.
Summarized reversion rate was found to be 24.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 18.4–32.9%)
and 25.3% (95% CI: 19.6–32.0%) for those completed or without treatment, respectively.
When the analysis was restricted to the participants completed treatment, higher summarized
rate of QFT reversion was found among those with longer course therapy (9INH vs. the
other regimens), studies from Asia (vs. Europe and America), and individuals with
immunosuppression disorders (vs. general populations).
Conclusions
Our results suggested that QFT reversion was frequently observed regardless of with
or without prophylactic treatment. Serial QFT testing might be inappropriate for evaluating
preventive treatment efficacy.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 07, 2018
Accepted:
April 2,
2018
Received in revised form:
March 9,
2018
Received:
November 20,
2017
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 The British Infection Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
