Value of urinary lipoarabinomannan levels for tuberculosis diagnosis and monitoring of therapy

BackgroundThe urinary lipoarabinomannan (LAM) assay has emerged as a promising tool for tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and treatment monitoring. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and monitoring performance of LAM compared to Acid-fast bacilli (AFB), Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT),...

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Main Authors: Yiqun Xiong, Zhihong Shen, Bo Dong, Ying Wang, Ying Zhu, Hongxia Wei, Dongliang Zhang, Yang Che
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1653031/full
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author Yiqun Xiong
Zhihong Shen
Bo Dong
Ying Wang
Ying Zhu
Hongxia Wei
Dongliang Zhang
Yang Che
author_facet Yiqun Xiong
Zhihong Shen
Bo Dong
Ying Wang
Ying Zhu
Hongxia Wei
Dongliang Zhang
Yang Che
author_sort Yiqun Xiong
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundThe urinary lipoarabinomannan (LAM) assay has emerged as a promising tool for tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and treatment monitoring. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and monitoring performance of LAM compared to Acid-fast bacilli (AFB), Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT), and GeneXpert, and to establish its clinical utility in a stratified TB population.MethodsA prospective cohort study included TB patients stratified by AFB/MGIT status into three groups. Diagnostic accuracy was tested against composite reference standard (CRS). Early monitoring performance was assessed via serial LAM measurements during 12-week treatment. ROC/KM/Cox analyses determined optimal thresholds and predictors of LAM conversion.ResultsAgainst CRS, LAM demonstrated a sensitivity of 58.75%, which was numerically higher than AFB smear (45.00%, p = 0.082) and comparable to MGIT culture (58.75%, p = 1.00), but numerically lower than GeneXpert (61.25%, p = 0.205). In the early monitoring phase, LAM showed sustained positivity in 11.54–51.72% at week 12, compared to <15% for other methods. The diagnostic-monitoring quadrant analysis revealed LAM’s optimal positioning for monitoring (mean conversion time 4.63–11.49 weeks), compared to 0–8.25 weeks for other methods. A combined model incorporating baseline PreLAM and week 4 change (ΔLAM) showed the highest predictive value for 12 weeks conversion (AUC = 0.871–0.943). Multivariate cox analysis identified ΔLAM as independent predictors in total cohort (HR = 0.013, p = 0.001) and double positive group (HR = 0.020, p = 0.002).ConclusionUrinary LAM serves as a dual-role biomarker, providing moderate diagnostic sensitivity and dynamic monitoring signals reflecting early bacillary response to therapy. The PreLAM+ΔLAM model enables early treatment response assessment for personalized therapy.
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spelling doaj-art-059ed42cd28b41939c61371aca5ae4312025-08-20T05:32:58ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2025-08-011610.3389/fmicb.2025.16530311653031Value of urinary lipoarabinomannan levels for tuberculosis diagnosis and monitoring of therapyYiqun Xiong0Zhihong Shen1Bo Dong2Ying Wang3Ying Zhu4Hongxia Wei5Dongliang Zhang6Yang Che7Department of Infection, Ningbo Yinzhou No.2 Hospital, Ningbo, ChinaDepartment of Infection, Ningbo Yinzhou No.2 Hospital, Ningbo, ChinaDepartment of Infection, Ningbo Yinzhou No.2 Hospital, Ningbo, ChinaDepartment of Infection, Ningbo Yinzhou No.2 Hospital, Ningbo, ChinaDepartment of Infection, Ningbo Yinzhou No.2 Hospital, Ningbo, ChinaGraduate School, Lyceum of the Philippines University - Batangas, Batangas City, PhilippinesInstitute of Tuberculosis Prevention and Control, Ningbo Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ningbo, ChinaInstitute of Tuberculosis Prevention and Control, Ningbo Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ningbo, ChinaBackgroundThe urinary lipoarabinomannan (LAM) assay has emerged as a promising tool for tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and treatment monitoring. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and monitoring performance of LAM compared to Acid-fast bacilli (AFB), Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT), and GeneXpert, and to establish its clinical utility in a stratified TB population.MethodsA prospective cohort study included TB patients stratified by AFB/MGIT status into three groups. Diagnostic accuracy was tested against composite reference standard (CRS). Early monitoring performance was assessed via serial LAM measurements during 12-week treatment. ROC/KM/Cox analyses determined optimal thresholds and predictors of LAM conversion.ResultsAgainst CRS, LAM demonstrated a sensitivity of 58.75%, which was numerically higher than AFB smear (45.00%, p = 0.082) and comparable to MGIT culture (58.75%, p = 1.00), but numerically lower than GeneXpert (61.25%, p = 0.205). In the early monitoring phase, LAM showed sustained positivity in 11.54–51.72% at week 12, compared to <15% for other methods. The diagnostic-monitoring quadrant analysis revealed LAM’s optimal positioning for monitoring (mean conversion time 4.63–11.49 weeks), compared to 0–8.25 weeks for other methods. A combined model incorporating baseline PreLAM and week 4 change (ΔLAM) showed the highest predictive value for 12 weeks conversion (AUC = 0.871–0.943). Multivariate cox analysis identified ΔLAM as independent predictors in total cohort (HR = 0.013, p = 0.001) and double positive group (HR = 0.020, p = 0.002).ConclusionUrinary LAM serves as a dual-role biomarker, providing moderate diagnostic sensitivity and dynamic monitoring signals reflecting early bacillary response to therapy. The PreLAM+ΔLAM model enables early treatment response assessment for personalized therapy.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1653031/fulltuberculosislipoarabinomannantreatment monitoringdiagnostic accuracypredictive modeling
spellingShingle Yiqun Xiong
Zhihong Shen
Bo Dong
Ying Wang
Ying Zhu
Hongxia Wei
Dongliang Zhang
Yang Che
Value of urinary lipoarabinomannan levels for tuberculosis diagnosis and monitoring of therapy
Frontiers in Microbiology
tuberculosis
lipoarabinomannan
treatment monitoring
diagnostic accuracy
predictive modeling
title Value of urinary lipoarabinomannan levels for tuberculosis diagnosis and monitoring of therapy
title_full Value of urinary lipoarabinomannan levels for tuberculosis diagnosis and monitoring of therapy
title_fullStr Value of urinary lipoarabinomannan levels for tuberculosis diagnosis and monitoring of therapy
title_full_unstemmed Value of urinary lipoarabinomannan levels for tuberculosis diagnosis and monitoring of therapy
title_short Value of urinary lipoarabinomannan levels for tuberculosis diagnosis and monitoring of therapy
title_sort value of urinary lipoarabinomannan levels for tuberculosis diagnosis and monitoring of therapy
topic tuberculosis
lipoarabinomannan
treatment monitoring
diagnostic accuracy
predictive modeling
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1653031/full
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