Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) as promising biomarkers for distinguishing active from latent tuberculosis in children and adolescents.

Since distinguishing pulmonary (PTB) from latent tuberculosis (LTBI) in pediatric patients remains a challenge, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of immune mediators in diagnosing PTB and LTBI in this population. In this cross-sectional study performed with children and adolescents, serum levels of 20 biomarkers were assessed and data were analyzed according to age groups. We included 65 participants (PTB, n = 28 and LTBI, n = 37). Overall, levels of TNF-α, IL-1Ra, IL-6, IL-17A, VEGF, MMP-1, and procalcitonin were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in adolescents and children <10 years-old with PTB. Also, principal component analysis (PCA) showed that immune mediators were able to distinguish PTB from LTBI. VEGF and IL-1Ra presented the highest area under the curve (AUC) values, both separately (AUC 0.890 and 0.785) and combined (AUC 0.99). Taken together, we showed that VEGF and IL-1Ra are promising biomarkers to distinguish PTB from LTBI in pediatric patients, especially in children <5 years-old.

Diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in children and adolescents: comparison of two versions of the Brazilian Ministry of Health scoring system.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the concordance between two versions of the scoring system (2011 and 2019), recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in children and adolescents. A retrospective descriptive study was performed to assess the medical records of children and adolescents with PTB, in TB units from Brazilian cities located in Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, and Parana States, from January 1 st , 2004, to December 1 st , 2018. Patients aged 0 to 18 years old with a diagnosis of PTB were included. The comparison between the two scoring systems showed a moderate concordance according to the κ coefficient value = 0.625. Fourteen patients showed a reduction in the TB score, going from 30 points in the 2011, to 25 points or less in the 2019 one. Seventy one percent of these 14 patients had radiological changes suggestive of PTB and 86% had tuberculin skin tests greater than 10 mm. The study concluded that a moderate agreement was observed between the 2011 and 2019 scoring systems, with an increase in the number of patients scoring 25 points or less in 2019, which can eventually hinder the diagnosis of PTB.

Pediatric tuberculosis in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro.

AIM: To evaluate the clinical characteristics, diagnostic approach, and treatment outcomes of tuberculosis (TB) in children living in a high-burden metropolitan area. METHODS: This was a retrospective study, based on a medical chart review, involving children under 15 years old treated for TB between 2007 and 2016, in four primary health units (PHU) and three reference centers (RC) in five cities of Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area. Factors associated with TB treatment setting, microbiological diagnosis, and treatment outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 544 children were enrolled; 71% were treated in PHU, 36% were under 5 years old, and 72% had pulmonary TB (PTB). The HIV prevalence was 10% (31/322). Fifty-three percent had at least one microbiological test for TB, 68% of them (196/287) had TB confirmed. Among 222 children with previous TB contact, information on LTBI was available for 78 (35%), and only 17% (13/78) were treated. Extrapulmonary TB (56% vs 32%), microbiologically confirmed TB (77% vs 60%), and HIV positivity (18.5% vs 4.0%) were significantly more frequent in RC. Treatment in RC (odds ratio (OR) 3.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.74-5.44) and PTB (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.34-4.56) were independently associated with a microbiological diagnosis of TB. The treatment success rate was 85%. In the logistic regression analysis, HIV-infected children had a 2.5-fold higher risk of an unfavorable outcome (OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.0-6.38; p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Opportunities for TB prevention and early TB treatment are missed due to suboptimal close contact screening. Microbiological diagnosis of TB and drug susceptibility testing in children should be made available through more sensitive and accessible tests.

[Tuberculosis among adolescents in two Brazilian State capitals]. / Tuberculose em adolescentes em duas capitais brasileiras.

The study analyzed clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics of tuberculosis (TB) among adolescents from two Brazilian State capitals, according to the 2010 Updated Guidelines of the National TB Control Program (NTPC) through a descriptive, retrospective cross-sectional study of reported TB cases from Manaus and Salvador from 1996 to 2003. Patients were divided into two groups: 10 to 14 years and 15 to 19 years of age. Variables were studied through descriptive statistics; 1,781 adolescents were included; 928 (52.1%) were males. Median age was 16 years (SD = 2.3). Pulmonary TB (PTB) occurred in 1,447 patients (82.9%), pleural TB in 179 (10.3%), and peripheral adenopathy in 81 (4.6%). Cough was more frequent in the ≥ 15-year PTB group (p < 0.001). Chest x-rays were classified as: adult-type TB in 1,088 (98.6%) in the ≥-15 year group; 258 (98.1%) in the < 15-year group (p < 0.0001). Adult type bacteriological PTB increased in proportion to age.

Tuberculose em adolescentes em duas capitais brasileiras / Tuberculosis among adolescents in two Brazilian State capitals / Tuberculosis en adolescentes de dos capitales brasileñas

Analisamos o perfil clínico-radiológico da tuberculose (TB) em adolescentes de duas capitais brasileiras, segundo a revisão de 2010 das normas do Programa Nacional de Controle da Tuberculose; estudo descritivo, retrospectivo, transversal de casos notificados de TB em Manaus e Salvador, de 1996 a 2003, em dois grupos: 10 a 14 anos e ≥ 15 a 19 anos com estatística descritiva. Havia 1.781 adolescentes [928 (52,1%) do sexo masculino]. A média de idade = 16 anos (mediana = 16; DP = 2,3). Encontramos 1.447 (82,9%) pacientes com TB pulmonar; 179 (10,3%) com TB pleural e 81 (4,6%) com ganglionar periférica. A tosse ocorreu mais no grupo ≥ 15 anos (p < 0,001). A baciloscopia foi positiva em 150 (72,1%) com TB pulmonar no grupo de 10 a 14 anos, e em 870 (84,4%) no grupo de ≥ 15 anos. Havia radiografias de tórax do tipo adulto em 1.088 (98.6%) no grupo de ≥ 15 anos, e em 58 (98.1%) no grupo < 15 anos (p < 0.0001). Houve tendência à maior ocorrência de TB bacteriológica do tipo adulto na medida em que o paciente aumentava de idade.

The study analyzed clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics of tuberculosis (TB) among adolescents from two Brazilian State capitals, according to the 2010 Updated Guidelines of the National TB Control Program (NTPC) through a descriptive, retrospective cross-sectional study of reported TB cases from Manaus and Salvador from 1996 to 2003. Patients were divided into two groups: 10 to 14 years and 15 to 19 years of age. Variables were studied through descriptive statistics; 1,781 adolescents were included; 928 (52.1%) were males. Median age was 16 years (SD = 2.3). Pulmonary TB (PTB) occurred in 1,447 patients (82.9%), pleural TB in 179 (10.3%), and peripheral adenopathy in 81 (4.6%). Cough was more frequent in the ≥ 15-year PTB group (p < 0.001). Chest x-rays were classified as: adult-type TB in 1,088 (98.6%) in the ≥-15 year group; 258 (98.1%) in the < 15-year group (p < 0.0001). Adult type bacteriological PTB increased in proportion to age.

Analizamos el perfil clínico-radiológico de la tuberculosis (TB) en adolescentes de dos capitales brasileñas, según la revisión de 2010 de las normas del Programa Nacional de Control de la Tuberculosis, estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo, transversal de casos notificados de TB en Manaus y Salvador, de 1996 a 2003, en dos grupos: 10 a 14 años y ≥ 15 a 19 años con estadística descriptiva. Había 1.781 adolescentes [928 (52,1%) del sexo masculino]. La media de edad = 16 años (mediana = 16; DP = 2,3). Encontramos 1.447 (82,9%) pacientes con TB pulmonar; 179 (10,3%) con TB pleural y 81 (4,6%) con ganglionar periférica. La tos ocurrió más en el grupo ≥ 15 años (p < 0,001). La baciloscopia fue positiva en 150 (72,1%) con TB pulmonar, en el grupo de 10 a 14 años, y en 870 (84,4%) en el grupo de ≥ 15 años. Había radiografías de tórax del tipo adulto en 1.088 (98.6%) en el grupo de ≥ 15 años, y en 58 (98.1%) en el grupo < 15 años (p < 0.0001). Hubo tendencia a una mayor ocurrencia de TB bacteriológica de tipo adulto, a medida que el paciente aumentaba de edad.