Abstract
Previous studies in UK subjects suggested that the 19 kDa protein antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis might be valuable in the serodiagnosis of paucibacillary tuberculosis. In this study, antibody titres for the 19 kDa antigen were higher in healthy controls in India than in the UK. Consequently, the diagnostic sensitivity of this antigen and its TB23 epitope was negligible in Indian patients with tuberculosis. However, a diagnostic sensitivity of 50% was achieved in patients with skin tuberculosis on the basis of a high ratio between antibody titres for the whole antigen and its TB23 epitope.
MeSH terms
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Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
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Antibodies, Bacterial / immunology
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Antibodies, Monoclonal
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Antigens, Bacterial / immunology*
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Chi-Square Distribution
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Epitopes / immunology
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Humans
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India
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Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology*
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Sensitivity and Specificity
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Serologic Tests
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Tuberculosis / diagnosis*
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Tuberculosis / immunology
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Tuberculosis, Cutaneous / diagnosis
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Tuberculosis, Cutaneous / immunology
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Tuberculosis, Meningeal / diagnosis
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Tuberculosis, Meningeal / immunology
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Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis
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Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / immunology
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United Kingdom
Substances
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Antibodies, Bacterial
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Antibodies, Monoclonal
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Antigens, Bacterial
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Epitopes