In this study, the possible role of ELISA was evaluated using Antigen 60 ( A60) for improving diagnosis of tubercolosis in children. The study induced 10 patients ( group 1-A) with psoitive sputum or gastric lavage for AFB, and ji" par:•nts ( group 1-B) with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis on clinical and radiological findings with sputum or gastric lavage negative for AFB by direct microscopy, and 30 apparently healthy children, control subjects ( group II). ELISA was considered positive if the 0.0. is more than 0.300 (cutoff value). In group I-A, group I-B and group lithe 0.0. of the IgG antibody levels were 0.418 0.211, 0.386 ± 0.314 and 0.164 2 147 repectively. A highly statistical significant difference was observed between cases of group 1-A , group 1-B and in controls ( P < 0.005). No difference of statistical significance ( P > 0.005) of the 0.0., values of group 1-A and group I-B. No correlation was found between the results of ELISA and both tuberculin skin testing and radiolgoical extent of the disease. It can be concluded from this study that the use of A60 may be reliable for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in children. |
