A Review Of Host-Specific Diagnostic And Surrogate Biomarkers In Children With Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Junaid Shaik; Manormoney Pillay; Prakash Jeena

doi:10.1016/j.prrv.2024.01.005

A Review Of Host-Specific Diagnostic And Surrogate Biomarkers In Children With Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Paediatr Respir Rev. 2024 Feb 17:S1526-0542(24)00018-6. doi: 10.1016/j.prrv.2024.01.005. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Junaid Shaik¹, Manormoney Pillay², Prakash Jeena³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 719 Umbilo Road, Durban, 4000, South Africa; Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Steve Biko Road, Berea, Durban, 4000, South Africa. Electronic address: junaids@dut.ac.za.
² Medical Microbiology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 719 Umbilo Road, Durban, 4000, South Africa.
³ Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 719 Umbilo Road, Durban, 4000, South Africa.

PMID: 38521643
DOI: 10.1016/j.prrv.2024.01.005

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most common causes of mortality globally with a steady rise in paediatric cases in the past decade. Laboratory methods of diagnosing TB and monitoring response to treatment have limitations. Current research focuses on interrogating host- and/or pathogen-specific biomarkers to address this problem.

Methods: We reviewed the literature on host-specific biomarkers in TB to determine their value in diagnosis and treatment response in TB infected and HIV/TB co-infected children on anti-tuberculosis treatment.

Results and conclusion: While no single host-specific biomarker has been identified for diagnosis or treatment responses in children, several studies suggest predictive biosignatures for disease activity. Alarmingly, current data on host-specific biomarkers for diagnosing and assessing anti-tuberculosis treatment in TB/HIV co-infected children is inadequate. Various factors affecting host-specific biomarker responses should be considered in interpreting findings and designing future studies within specific clinical settings.

Keywords: chemokines; cytokines; diagnosis; paediatric; treatment.

Publication types

Review