Review of Results of QuantiFERON TB Gold Test in Presumed Ocular Tuberculosis in a South Indian Patient Population.

AIM: To review the results of QuantiFERON TB gold (QFT-G) in our patient population of presumed ocular tuberculosis and the effect of antitubercular therapy (ATT) on the QFT-G result.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Retrospective review of 82 cases of presumed ocular tuberculosis with a successful response to ATT and 6 months follow-up post-ATT. Appropriate statistical analysis was done for associations between QFT-G and independent variables. Pre-ATT QFT-G values were also compared to the post-ATT value.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences in the results of QFT-G with age (0.635), gender (0.096), history of oral steroids (0.171), or type of uveitis (0.664). There was a statistically significant association between a positive QFT-G and serpiginous-like choroiditis (0.048). The majority of our patients had positive QFT even after completion of ATT but with a significant drop in the mean values post ATT (0.010).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows significant association of positive QFT with serpiginous-like choroiditis and persistent positivity even after completion of ATT in majority of cases in our population. There was, however, a drop in the mean values of QFT-G post-ATT.