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Murthy SE, Chatterjee F, Crook A, Dawson R, Mendel C, Murphy ME, Murray SR, Nunn AJ, Phillips PPJ, Singh KP, McHugh TD, Gillespie SH. Pretreatment chest x-ray severity and its relation to bacterial burden in smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis. BMC Med 2018; 16:73. [PMID: 29779492 PMCID: PMC5961483 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-018-1053-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chest radiographs are used for diagnosis and severity assessment in tuberculosis (TB). The extent of disease as determined by smear grade and cavitation as a binary measure can predict 2-month smear results, but little has been done to determine whether radiological severity reflects the bacterial burden at diagnosis. METHODS Pre-treatment chest x-rays from 1837 participants with smear-positive pulmonary TB enrolled into the REMoxTB trial (Gillespie et al., N Engl J Med 371:1577-87, 2014) were retrospectively reviewed. Two clinicians blinded to clinical details using the Ralph scoring system performed separate readings. An independent reader reviewed discrepant results for quality assessment and cavity presence. Cavitation presence was plotted against time to positivity (TTP) of sputum liquid cultures (MGIT 960). The Wilcoxon rank sum test was performed to calculate the difference in average TTP for these groups. The average lung field affected was compared to log 10 TTP by linear regression. Baseline markers of disease severity and patient characteristics were added in univariable regression analysis against radiological severity and a multivariable regression model was created to explore their relationship. RESULTS For 1354 participants, the median TTP was 117 h (4.88 days), being 26 h longer (95% CI 16-30, p < 0.001) in patients without cavitation compared to those with cavitation. The median percentage of lung-field affected was 18.1% (IQR 11.3-28.8%). For every 10-fold increase in TTP, the area of lung field affected decreased by 11.4%. Multivariable models showed that serum albumin decreased significantly as the percentage of lung field area increased in both those with and without cavitation. In addition, BMI and logged TTP had a small but significant effect in those with cavitation and the number of severe TB symptoms in the non-cavitation group also had a small effect, whilst other factors found to be significant on univariable analysis lost this effect in the model. CONCLUSIONS The radiological severity of disease on chest x-ray prior to treatment in smear positive pulmonary TB patients is weakly associated with the bacterial burden. When compared against other variables at diagnosis, this effect is lost in those without cavitation. Radiological severity does reflect the overall disease severity in smear positive pulmonary TB, but we suggest that clinicians should be cautious in over-interpreting the significance of radiological disease extent at diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- S E Murthy
- UCL Centre for Clinical Microbiology, Department of Infection, University College London, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London, NW3 2PF, UK.
| | - F Chatterjee
- Department of Radiology, Barts Health NHS Trust, The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1BB, UK
| | - A Crook
- Medical Research Council UK Clinical Trials Unit at University College London, Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London, WC2B 6NH, UK
| | - R Dawson
- University of Cape Town Lung Institute, George Street, Mowbray, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - C Mendel
- Global Alliance for Tuberculosis Drug Development, New York, NY, 10005, USA
| | - M E Murphy
- UCL Centre for Clinical Microbiology, Department of Infection, University College London, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London, NW3 2PF, UK
| | - S R Murray
- Global Alliance for Tuberculosis Drug Development, New York, NY, 10005, USA
| | - A J Nunn
- Medical Research Council UK Clinical Trials Unit at University College London, Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London, WC2B 6NH, UK
| | - P P J Phillips
- Medical Research Council UK Clinical Trials Unit at University College London, Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London, WC2B 6NH, UK
| | - Kasha P Singh
- UCL Centre for Clinical Microbiology, Department of Infection, University College London, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London, NW3 2PF, UK
| | - T D McHugh
- UCL Centre for Clinical Microbiology, Department of Infection, University College London, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London, NW3 2PF, UK
| | - S H Gillespie
- Medical and Biological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, KY16 9TF, UK.
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Meghji J, Simpson H, Squire SB, Mortimer K. A Systematic Review of the Prevalence and Pattern of Imaging Defined Post-TB Lung Disease. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0161176. [PMID: 27518438 PMCID: PMC4982669 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tuberculosis is an important risk factor for chronic respiratory disease in resource poor settings. The persistence of abnormal spirometry and symptoms after treatment are well described, but the structural abnormalities underlying these changes remain poorly defined, limiting our ability to phenotype post-TB lung disease in to meaningful categories for clinical management, prognostication, and ongoing research. The relationship between post-TB lung damage and patient-centred outcomes including functional impairment, respiratory symptoms, and health related quality of life also remains unclear. Methods We performed a systematic literature review to determine the prevalence and pattern of imaging-defined lung pathology in adults after medical treatment for pleural, miliary, or pulmonary TB disease. Data were collected on study characteristics, and the modality, timing, and findings of thoracic imaging. The proportion of studies relating imaging findings to spirometry results and patient morbidity was recorded. Study quality was assessed using a modified Newcastle-Ottowa score. (Prospero Registration number CRD42015027958) Results We identified 37 eligible studies. The principle features seen on CXR were cavitation (8.3–83.7%), bronchiectasis (4.3–11.2%), and fibrosis (25.0–70.4%), but prevalence was highly variable. CT imaging identified a wider range of residual abnormalities than CXR, including nodules (25.0–55.8%), consolidation (3.7–19.2%), and emphysema (15.0–45.0%). The prevalence of cavitation was generally lower (7.4–34.6%) and bronchiectasis higher (35.0–86.0%) on CT vs. CXR imaging. A paucity of prospective data, and data from HIV-infected adults and sub-Saharan Africa (sSA) was noted. Few studies related structural damage to physiological impairment, respiratory symptoms, or patient morbidity. Conclusions Post-TB structural lung pathology is common. Prospective data are required to determine the evolution of this lung damage and its associated morbidity over time. Further data are required from HIV-infected groups and those living in sSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamilah Meghji
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Hope Simpson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - S. Bertel Squire
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin Mortimer
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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High morbidity during treatment and residual pulmonary disability in pulmonary tuberculosis: under-recognised phenomena. PLoS One 2013; 8:e80302. [PMID: 24312209 PMCID: PMC3843655 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2013] [Accepted: 10/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), morbidity during treatment and residual pulmonary disability can be under-estimated. METHODS Among adults with smear-positive PTB at an outpatient clinic in Papua, Indonesia, we assessed morbidity at baseline and during treatment, and 6-month residual disability, by measuring functional capacity (six-minute walk test [6MWT] and pulmonary function), quality of life (St George's Respiratory Questionnaire [SGRQ]) and Adverse Events ([AE]: new symptoms not present at outset). Results were compared with findings in locally-recruited volunteers. RESULTS 200 PTB patients and 40 volunteers were enrolled. 6WMT was 497m (interquartile range 460-529) in controls versus 408m (IQR 346-450) in PTB patients at baseline (p<0.0001) and 470m (IQR 418-515) in PTB patients after 6 months (p=0.02 versus controls). SGRQ total score was 0 units (IQR 0-2.9) in controls, versus 36.9 (27.4-52.8) in PTB patients at baseline (p<0.0001) and 4.3 (1.7-8.8) by 6 months (p<0.0001). Mean percentage of predicted FEV1 was 92% (standard deviation 19.9) in controls, versus 63% (19.4) in PTB patients at baseline (p<0.0001) and 71% (17.5) by 6 months (p<0.0001). After 6 months, 27% of TB patients still had at least moderate-severe pulmonary function impairment, and 57% still had respiratory symptoms, despite most achieving 'successful' treatment outcomes, and reporting good quality of life. More-advanced disease at baseline (longer illness duration, worse baseline X-ray) and HIV positivity predicted residual disability. AE at any time during treatment were common: itch 59%, arthralgia 58%, headache 40%, nausea 33%, vomiting 16%. CONCLUSION We found high 6-month residual pulmonary disability and high AE rates. Although PTB treatment is highly successful, the extent of morbidity during treatment and residual impairment could be overlooked if not specifically sought. Calculations of PTB-related burden of disease should acknowledge that TB-related morbidity does not stop at 6 months. Early case detection and treatment are key in minimising residual impairment.
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