C1q Levels: A Reliable Biomarker for Differentiating Active and Latent Tuberculosis Infection

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) poses a significant public health challenge, particularly because it can exist in an asymptomatic latent phase. Latent TB infection indicates the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis without clinical symptoms. Effectively distinguishing between active and latent TB is...

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Main Authors: Sepideh Darougar, Afshin Moniri, Parvaneh Baghaei, Esmaeil Mortaz, Makan Sadr, Arad Moniri, Majid Marjani, Payam Tabarsi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2024-12-01
Series:International Journal of Mycobacteriology
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Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ijmy.ijmy_194_24
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author Sepideh Darougar
Afshin Moniri
Parvaneh Baghaei
Esmaeil Mortaz
Makan Sadr
Arad Moniri
Majid Marjani
Payam Tabarsi
author_facet Sepideh Darougar
Afshin Moniri
Parvaneh Baghaei
Esmaeil Mortaz
Makan Sadr
Arad Moniri
Majid Marjani
Payam Tabarsi
author_sort Sepideh Darougar
collection DOAJ
description Background: Tuberculosis (TB) poses a significant public health challenge, particularly because it can exist in an asymptomatic latent phase. Latent TB infection indicates the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis without clinical symptoms. Effectively distinguishing between active and latent TB is essential, especially in regions with high TB prevalence, as it may help reduce transmission rates. This study aims to evaluate C1q as a potential biomarker for differentiating active TB from latent forms. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2017 to February 2018, involving HIV-negative adults aged 18 and older attending TB clinics. Participants were categorized based on clinical symptoms, imaging results, and laboratory tests into active or latent TB. Blood samples were collected to assess serum C1q levels, which were then compared between the two groups. Results: Out of 81 patients referred for TB evaluation, 38 were diagnosed with active TB. The overall median C1q level was 6.46 μg/ml (interquartile range 4.66–10). The active TB group exhibited significantly elevated C1q levels (10.21 μg/ml) compared to the latent TB group (6.03 μg/ml, P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for C1q in distinguishing active from latent TB was 0.74 (95% confidence interval, 0.63–0.85), with sensitivity varying between 61% and 82% at different threshold values. Conclusions: C1q shows potential as a reliable and easily obtainable biomarker for differentiating active TB from latent infection, demonstrating high sensitivity. These results underscore the need for further research to explore the clinical application of C1q in TB diagnostics.
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spelling doaj-art-4d97ae52b0454041b60fd69a9bceee9b2025-08-20T02:45:28ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsInternational Journal of Mycobacteriology2212-55312212-554X2024-12-0113440440910.4103/ijmy.ijmy_194_24C1q Levels: A Reliable Biomarker for Differentiating Active and Latent Tuberculosis InfectionSepideh DarougarAfshin MoniriParvaneh BaghaeiEsmaeil MortazMakan SadrArad MoniriMajid MarjaniPayam TabarsiBackground: Tuberculosis (TB) poses a significant public health challenge, particularly because it can exist in an asymptomatic latent phase. Latent TB infection indicates the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis without clinical symptoms. Effectively distinguishing between active and latent TB is essential, especially in regions with high TB prevalence, as it may help reduce transmission rates. This study aims to evaluate C1q as a potential biomarker for differentiating active TB from latent forms. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2017 to February 2018, involving HIV-negative adults aged 18 and older attending TB clinics. Participants were categorized based on clinical symptoms, imaging results, and laboratory tests into active or latent TB. Blood samples were collected to assess serum C1q levels, which were then compared between the two groups. Results: Out of 81 patients referred for TB evaluation, 38 were diagnosed with active TB. The overall median C1q level was 6.46 μg/ml (interquartile range 4.66–10). The active TB group exhibited significantly elevated C1q levels (10.21 μg/ml) compared to the latent TB group (6.03 μg/ml, P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for C1q in distinguishing active from latent TB was 0.74 (95% confidence interval, 0.63–0.85), with sensitivity varying between 61% and 82% at different threshold values. Conclusions: C1q shows potential as a reliable and easily obtainable biomarker for differentiating active TB from latent infection, demonstrating high sensitivity. These results underscore the need for further research to explore the clinical application of C1q in TB diagnostics.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ijmy.ijmy_194_24active tuberculosisbiomarkerc1qlatent tuberculosistuberculosis
spellingShingle Sepideh Darougar
Afshin Moniri
Parvaneh Baghaei
Esmaeil Mortaz
Makan Sadr
Arad Moniri
Majid Marjani
Payam Tabarsi
C1q Levels: A Reliable Biomarker for Differentiating Active and Latent Tuberculosis Infection
International Journal of Mycobacteriology
active tuberculosis
biomarker
c1q
latent tuberculosis
tuberculosis
title C1q Levels: A Reliable Biomarker for Differentiating Active and Latent Tuberculosis Infection
title_full C1q Levels: A Reliable Biomarker for Differentiating Active and Latent Tuberculosis Infection
title_fullStr C1q Levels: A Reliable Biomarker for Differentiating Active and Latent Tuberculosis Infection
title_full_unstemmed C1q Levels: A Reliable Biomarker for Differentiating Active and Latent Tuberculosis Infection
title_short C1q Levels: A Reliable Biomarker for Differentiating Active and Latent Tuberculosis Infection
title_sort c1q levels a reliable biomarker for differentiating active and latent tuberculosis infection
topic active tuberculosis
biomarker
c1q
latent tuberculosis
tuberculosis
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ijmy.ijmy_194_24
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