QuantiFERON<sup>®</sup> Monitor Test as a Potential Tool for Stratifying Patients by Infection Risk and Tailoring Follow-Up Care in Lung Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Retrospective Experience
Background: Lung transplantation is a life-saving option for patients with end-stage respiratory diseases, but risk of infections remains critical for ensuring long-term organ function. This study aimed to assess immune recovery in lung transplant recipients by measuring IFN-γ levels using the Quant...
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| author | Paolo Solidoro Antonio Curtoni Filippo Patrucco Eleonora Russo Francesca Sidoti Giorgia Piccinini Alessandro Bondi Paolo Valesella Mattia Genco Massimo Boffini Rocco Francesco Rinaldo Cristina Costa |
| author_facet | Paolo Solidoro Antonio Curtoni Filippo Patrucco Eleonora Russo Francesca Sidoti Giorgia Piccinini Alessandro Bondi Paolo Valesella Mattia Genco Massimo Boffini Rocco Francesco Rinaldo Cristina Costa |
| author_sort | Paolo Solidoro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Lung transplantation is a life-saving option for patients with end-stage respiratory diseases, but risk of infections remains critical for ensuring long-term organ function. This study aimed to assess immune recovery in lung transplant recipients by measuring IFN-γ levels using the QuantiFERON Monitor Test (QFM). Results were correlated with episodes of infection and organ rejection to explore the assay’s predictive potential. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 15 lung transplant recipients at the Lung Transplant Centre of Turin (Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Italy) between December 2019 and January 2023. Patients were divided into a High Infection (HI) group (with >3 infections) and Low Infection (LI) group (with ≤3 infections). QFM assays were performed after 18 months post-transplant. Results: HI patients had lower QFM levels compared to LI (68.84 ± 21.98 vs. 380.54 ± 104.64 UI/mL, <i>p</i> = 0.033). A QFM value <89.5 UI/mL was associated with increased infection risk (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Patients with lower QFM levels also exhibited higher rates of MRSA bacteremia during hospitalization (50% HI vs. 0% LI, <i>p</i> = 0.04). No differences were observed in acute or chronic rejection rates, but LI patients showed more frequent alveolar neutrophilia at the fourth month post-transplant (0% HI vs. 55.5% LI, <i>p</i> = 0.04). Conclusion: lower QFM values were associated with higher infection risk, highlighting the assay’s potential for immune monitoring. In this study, a QFM value of 89.5 UI/mL showed good predictive accuracy for infections beyond 18 months. Further studies are needed to refine QFM’s role in post-transplant care. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9e265436161b4a63998bb7d7bb0e669b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-9e265436161b4a63998bb7d7bb0e669b2025-08-20T02:45:00ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-02-0113231610.3390/microorganisms13020316QuantiFERON<sup>®</sup> Monitor Test as a Potential Tool for Stratifying Patients by Infection Risk and Tailoring Follow-Up Care in Lung Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Retrospective ExperiencePaolo Solidoro0Antonio Curtoni1Filippo Patrucco2Eleonora Russo3Francesca Sidoti4Giorgia Piccinini5Alessandro Bondi6Paolo Valesella7Mattia Genco8Massimo Boffini9Rocco Francesco Rinaldo10Cristina Costa11Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, Division of Respiratory Medicine, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Torino, ItalyMicrobiology and Virology Unit, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, ItalyRespiratory Diseases Unit, Medical Department, AOU Maggiore della Carità di Novara, 28100 Novara, ItalyCardiovascular and Thoracic Department, Division of Respiratory Medicine, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Torino, ItalyMicrobiology and Virology Unit, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, ItalyDepartment of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, ItalyMicrobiology and Virology Unit, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, ItalyMicrobiology and Virology Unit, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, ItalyDepartment of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, ItalyCardiac Surgery Division, Surgical Sciences Department, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, University of Turin, 10126 Torino, ItalyCardiovascular and Thoracic Department, Division of Respiratory Medicine, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Torino, ItalyMicrobiology and Virology Unit, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, ItalyBackground: Lung transplantation is a life-saving option for patients with end-stage respiratory diseases, but risk of infections remains critical for ensuring long-term organ function. This study aimed to assess immune recovery in lung transplant recipients by measuring IFN-γ levels using the QuantiFERON Monitor Test (QFM). Results were correlated with episodes of infection and organ rejection to explore the assay’s predictive potential. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 15 lung transplant recipients at the Lung Transplant Centre of Turin (Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Italy) between December 2019 and January 2023. Patients were divided into a High Infection (HI) group (with >3 infections) and Low Infection (LI) group (with ≤3 infections). QFM assays were performed after 18 months post-transplant. Results: HI patients had lower QFM levels compared to LI (68.84 ± 21.98 vs. 380.54 ± 104.64 UI/mL, <i>p</i> = 0.033). A QFM value <89.5 UI/mL was associated with increased infection risk (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Patients with lower QFM levels also exhibited higher rates of MRSA bacteremia during hospitalization (50% HI vs. 0% LI, <i>p</i> = 0.04). No differences were observed in acute or chronic rejection rates, but LI patients showed more frequent alveolar neutrophilia at the fourth month post-transplant (0% HI vs. 55.5% LI, <i>p</i> = 0.04). Conclusion: lower QFM values were associated with higher infection risk, highlighting the assay’s potential for immune monitoring. In this study, a QFM value of 89.5 UI/mL showed good predictive accuracy for infections beyond 18 months. Further studies are needed to refine QFM’s role in post-transplant care.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/2/316QuantiFERON Monitor Testlung transplantationimmunosuppression |
| spellingShingle | Paolo Solidoro Antonio Curtoni Filippo Patrucco Eleonora Russo Francesca Sidoti Giorgia Piccinini Alessandro Bondi Paolo Valesella Mattia Genco Massimo Boffini Rocco Francesco Rinaldo Cristina Costa QuantiFERON<sup>®</sup> Monitor Test as a Potential Tool for Stratifying Patients by Infection Risk and Tailoring Follow-Up Care in Lung Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Retrospective Experience Microorganisms QuantiFERON Monitor Test lung transplantation immunosuppression |
| title | QuantiFERON<sup>®</sup> Monitor Test as a Potential Tool for Stratifying Patients by Infection Risk and Tailoring Follow-Up Care in Lung Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Retrospective Experience |
| title_full | QuantiFERON<sup>®</sup> Monitor Test as a Potential Tool for Stratifying Patients by Infection Risk and Tailoring Follow-Up Care in Lung Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Retrospective Experience |
| title_fullStr | QuantiFERON<sup>®</sup> Monitor Test as a Potential Tool for Stratifying Patients by Infection Risk and Tailoring Follow-Up Care in Lung Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Retrospective Experience |
| title_full_unstemmed | QuantiFERON<sup>®</sup> Monitor Test as a Potential Tool for Stratifying Patients by Infection Risk and Tailoring Follow-Up Care in Lung Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Retrospective Experience |
| title_short | QuantiFERON<sup>®</sup> Monitor Test as a Potential Tool for Stratifying Patients by Infection Risk and Tailoring Follow-Up Care in Lung Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Retrospective Experience |
| title_sort | quantiferon sup r sup monitor test as a potential tool for stratifying patients by infection risk and tailoring follow up care in lung transplant recipients a single center retrospective experience |
| topic | QuantiFERON Monitor Test lung transplantation immunosuppression |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/2/316 |
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