Profiles of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Levels in Healthcare Workers with Latent Tuberculosis and Non-Latent Tuberculosis Infections (Healthy Control)

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection causes the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines affecting hemostasis. Although the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) has a vital role in the fibrinolysis system, little is known about its profile among people with latent tuberculosis (TB). METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study that involves 80 healthcare workers. The study was conducted in two academic medical centers of Makassar city, Indonesia, from September to October 2021. PAI-1 levels were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. The statistical test results were significant if p < 0.05. RESULTS: Although there was no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) in PAI-1 levels, PAI-1 level among participants in the latent TB infection (LTBI) group was found to be lower (4.9 ng/mL) than in the healthy control group (6.0 ng/mL). In addition, participants in the LTBI group with a history of being infected (9.6 ng/mL) with the COVID-19 had higher PAI-1 levels than those who had never been infected (2.3 ng/mL), which is statistically significant (p = 0.004). Although there was no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) in PAI-1 levels among participants in the healthy control group, those with a history of being infected (6.7 ng/mL) demonstrated higher PAI-1 levels than those who had never been infected (4.8 ng/mL). CONCLUSIONS: PAI-1 levels were lower in LTBI participants, which potentially is due to more participants in the healthy control group having a history of COVID-19 infection.