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Updated: Nov 10, 2025

Synthesis, Characterization, and Application of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoprobes for Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis Detection
Published on: February 16, 2020
Host biomarkers for monitoring therapeutic response in extrapulmonary tuberculosis
Atiqa Ambreen1, Aasia Khaliq2, Syed Zeeshan Haider Naqvi3
1Department of Microbiology, Gulab Devi Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan; Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), The University of Lahore, Defence Road Campus, Lahore, Pakistan.
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to explore the utility of inflammatory biomarkers in the peripheral blood to predict response to treatment in extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB).
Methods:
A Luminex xMAP-based multiplex immunoassay was used to measure 40 inflammatory biomarkers in un-stimulated plasma of 91 EPTB patients (48 lymphadenitis, and 43 pleuritis) before and at 2 and 6 months of treatment.
Results:
Overall a significant change was observed in 28 inflammatory biomarkers with treatment in EPTB patients. However, MIG/CXCL9, IP-10/CXCL10, and CCL23 decreased in all patients' groups with successful treatment at both time points. At 2 months, 29/64 (45%) patients responded partially while 35/64 (55%) showed complete regress. Among good responders, a higher number of biomarkers (16/40) reduced significantly as compared to partial responders (1/40). Almost half (14/29) of partial responders required longer treatment than 6 months to achieve satisfactory response. The levels of MIG, IP-10, MIF, CCL22 and CCL23 reduced significantly among 80, 74, 60, 71, 51% good responders, as compared to 52, 52, 52, 59, 52% partial responders, respectively. A biosignature, defined by a significant decrease in any one of these five biomarkers, corresponded with satisfactory response to treatment in 97% patients at 2 month and 99% patients at 6 months of treatment.
Conclusion:
Change in inflammatory biomarkers correlates with treatment success. A five biomarker biosignature (MIG, IP-10, MIF, CCL22 and CCL23) could be used as an indicator of treatment success.
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