Monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio is associated with tuberculosis disease and declines with anti-TB treatment in HIV-infected children Open Access

Abstract

Objective: The blood monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) is associated with active tuberculosis (TB) in adults, but has not been evaluated as a TB diagnostic biomarker in HIV-infected children in whom respiratory sampling is difficult.

 

Design: In a cohort of HIV-infected hospitalized Kenyan children initiating antiretroviral therapy, absolute monocyte and lymphocyte counts were determined at enrollment and 4, 12, and 24 weeks thereafter.

 

Methods: Children were classified as confirmed, unconfirmed, or unlikely TB. ROC curves of MLR cutoff values were generated to distinguish children with confirmed TB from those with unconfirmed and unlikely TB. General estimating equations were used to estimate change in MLR over time by TB disease status.

 

Results: Of 171 children with median age 24 months, 14 (8.2%) had confirmed TB and 75 (43.9%) had unconfirmed TB. Median MLR among children with confirmed TB [0.428 (interquartile range (IQR) 0.378 - 0.675)] was higher than MLR in children with unconfirmed [0.217 (IQR 0.155 - 0.353), p < 0.01] or unlikely [0.213 (IQR 0.140 - 0.391), p < 0.01] TB. MLR above 0.378 identified children with confirmed TB with 79% sensitivity, 77% specificity, 24% positive predictive value, and 98% negative predictive value. After TB treatment, median MLR declined in children with confirmed TB and levels were similar to children with unlikely TB after 12 weeks.

 

Conclusions: Blood MLR distinguished HIV-infected children with confirmed TB from those with unlikely TB and declined with TB treatment. MLR may be a useful diagnostic tool for TB in settings where respiratory-based microbiologic confirmation is inaccessible.

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School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Epidemiology
Subfield / Discipline	Epidemiology - MPH & MSPH
Degree	M.P.H.
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Epidemiology
Keyword	tuberculosis pediatric HIV
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Wall, Kristin M., Emory University
Committee Members	N/A, Emory University
Partnering Agencies	Emory University schools, faculty or affiliated programs

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