Serum chitotriosidase activity in pulmonary tuberculosis: response to treatment and correlations with clinical parameters

Abstract

Background: Chitotriosidase is an accepted marker of macrophage activation. In this study, we investigated serum chitotriosidase levels in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB).

Methods: Forth-two patients with PTB and 30 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. The radiological extent of PTB, radiological sequela after treatment, and the degree of smear positivity were assessed. Chitotriosidase levels were measured by a fluorometric method.

Results: The serum chitotriosidase levels of the PTB patients were significantly higher than those of the control subjects (39.73±24.97 vs. 9.63±4.55 nmol/mL/h, P<0.001). After completion of the standard 6-month antituberculous treatment, chitotriosidase levels in PTB patients significantly decreased (10.47±4.54 nmol/mL/h, P<0.001). Chitotriosidase levels correlated significantly with the radiological extent of PTB, degree of smear positivity, and post-treatment radiological sequela score (r=0.439, r=0.449, and r=0.337, respectively).

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that serum chitotriosidase levels increase in PTB; therefore, chitotriosidase can be used as a marker of disease activity, severity, and response to treatment.

Keywords: Chitotriosidase; Lung; Tuberculosis.

Fig. 1

Serum chitotriosidase levels in control subjects and pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients before and after treatment. Abbreviation: TB, tuberculosis.

Fig. 2

Correlation between serum chitotriosidase level and the degree of sputum smear for acid-fast bacilli (AFB).

Fig. 3

Correlation between serum chitotriosidase level and radiological extent of active tuberculosis (TB).

Fig. 4

Correlation between serum chitotriosidase level and the degree of post-treatment radiological sequela score after antituberculous treatment.

Fig. 5

ROC analysis to distinguish active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients from healthy subjects. Area under curve: 0.898.