NOVEL CYTOKINE BIOMARKERS IN QUANTIFERON SUPERNATANTS IN CHILDHOOD TB
Research type
Research Study
Full title
NOVEL CYTOKINE BIOMARKERS IN QUANTIFERON SUPERNATANTS IMPROVE DISTINCTION OF CHILDREN WITH ACTIVE TUBERCULOSIS FROM THOSE WITH PNEUMONIA AND LATENT TUBERCULOSIS INFECTION
IRAS ID
299369
Contact name
Elizabeth Whittaker
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 2nd Department of Pediatrics
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Tuberculosis (or TB) is a bug (bacteria) which can cause infection, most often in the lungs which spreads through the air and through coughing. TB is one of the ten most common causes of death in children worldwide.
The tests that we use to diagnose Tuberculosis in children are imperfect. Many of the tests we have do not work well in children, partly because children with TB have less bacteria in their lungs than adults do. It can take days or weeks to reach a diagnosis. Sometimes it is not easy to know if a child has TB or not, which can cause delays in treatment and poor outcomes. Current tests are based on spit samples, which are difficult to obtain and less frequently positive in children. New tests are needed to improve diagnosis by making it faster and more reliable. This would allow children to get the right treatment earlier. New tests would also benefit the general population by helping to reduce the spread of TB.
Previous work has shown that children with TB have different and distinct levels of small proteins called cytokines in the blood compared to children who don't have other lung infections. Therefore we aim to recruit children and young people with TB and test surplus (left-over) blood samples for cytokines, from patients who are having their routine bloods taken. We will then compare these results with children who do not have TB.
If we confirm that these proteins are specific to TB, we can develop a better and faster test for TB in children than we currently have.
REC name
London - West London & GTAC Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/PR/1036
Date of REC Opinion
16 Nov 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion