Serum IgE levels of tuberculosis patients in a tropical setup with high prevalence of HIV and intestinal parasitoses

Abstract

SUMMARY Tuberculosis remains a major health problem worldwide in the era of HIV/AIDS. Co‐infection with intestinal parasites has been suggested to worsen the outcome of infection by polarizing the immune response towards Th2. This study investigated serum IgE levels of 241 tuberculosis patients and compared the IgE profiles in the tuberculosis patients either with or without intestinal helminthic infection and/or HIV infection. The serum levels of IgE in tuberculosis patients before initiation of antimycobacterial chemotherapy were found to be 1722 ± 1290 IU/ml (Mean ± SD) in HIV seronegatives and 2366 ± 1849 IU/ml in HIV seropositives. Further, the IgE level was significantly higher in patients coinfected with intestinal helminthes and HIV compared to those infected with helminthes or without coinfection (P < 0·05). Anti‐tuberculosis chemotherapy significantly reduced serum IgE levels in HIV seronegative tuberculosis patients (P < 0·05). These findings might indicate an active role of therapy in shifting the immune response towards Th1 which is crucial for prognosis in tuberculosis patients.

Prevalence of Smear Positive Tuberculosis, Intestinal Parasites and Their Co-Infection among Tuberculosis Suspects in Gondar University Hospital and Gondar Poly Clinic, North West Ethiopia

“…BCG vaccination and monthly income had significant association with TB infectivity, however no evidence of significant relation between TB positivity with age and sex. This finding is in line with the study conducted in Tanzania and Gondar University Hospital [30,32].…”

Effect of 25 weeks probiotic supplementation on immune function of HIV patients

“…8,29 The finding that IgE is elevated compared to reference values 27 confirms previous findings of a Th-2 dominated immune-state among this population. 30,31 The increased levels may be partly due to helmintic colonization (IgE), though this effect is likely to be limited as previous studies show levels that do not significantly increase among HIV patients harboring helminths. 30 Elevated levels of IgG among HIV patients have been previously reported, although these may have been due to sub-clinical opportunistic infections.…”

“…30,31 The increased levels may be partly due to helmintic colonization (IgE), though this effect is likely to be limited as previous studies show levels that do not significantly increase among HIV patients harboring helminths. 30 Elevated levels of IgG among HIV patients have been previously reported, although these may have been due to sub-clinical opportunistic infections. 32 This is one of few studies to examine the safety of long-term use of probiotics, and the first to do so in a population with HIV.…”

Alterations in serum levels of trace elements in tuberculosis and HIV infections

“…Informed consent was obtained from all patients. TB was diagnosed by medical doctors as described previously (Kassu et al, 2004). To be considered as a case of TB, an individual had to have two or more of the following: (1) positive sputum smear, (2) histopathological evidence, (3) radiographic examination consistent with TB and (4) clinical response to anti-TB chemotherapy.…”