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The potential of immunodiagnostics for tuberculosis in children and adolescents with oncological diseases

https://doi.org/10.21518/ms2026-052

Abstract

Introduction. Currently, there is sustained high interest in screening for and treating latent tuberculosis infection as a potential measure for controlling the global tuberculosis epidemic, especially in children and adolescents at risk of developing tuberculosis.

Aim. To evaluate the informative value of immunodiagnostic tests for the detection and diagnosis of tuberculosis in children and adolescents with oncological diseases.

Materials and methods. A review was conducted of the medical documentation of 105 children with tuberculosis, aged 6 months to 17 years inclusive, who were examined at the National Medical Research Center for Phthisiopulmonology and Infectious Diseases and the Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center for Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology between 2018 and 2025. Two groups were identified: 52 patients – children with tuberculosis and oncological diseases (study group), and 53 patients – children with tuberculosis but without oncological diseases (control group). All patients in both groups underwent immunodiagnostic testing. The results of skin tests were assessed dynamically: 1 year prior to the development of tuberculosis (for children older than 1 year), 6 months prior to the diagnosis of tuberculosis, during the active phase of tuberculous, at the time of clinical cure of tuberculosis, and 6 months after clinical cure of tuberculosis.

Results. In children in the main group, а decrease in the sensitivity of intradermal tests was observed: the sensitivity of the Mantoux test (MT) with 2 TU was 53.85% (p < 0.01); the test with recombinant tuberculosis allergen (RTA) showed a sensitivity of 63.46% (p < 0.01). Positive reactions were more frequently recorded with IGRA tests (ELISPOT и ELISA), which demonstrated sensitivities of 69.23% (p < 0.01) and 65.38% (p < 0.01), respectively. Negative anergy was typical for children with hemoblastosis, malignant diseases of the central nervous system and bones, and disseminated (generalized) tuberculosis.

Conclusion. In children and adolescents with cancer, there is a decrease in the informative value of all immunodiagnostic tests, and intradermal samples (PM with 2 TE) in these patients are characterized by a lower sensitivity in detecting tuberculosis compared with IGRA tests.

About the Authors

I. A. Vasilyeva
Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University; National Medical Research Center for Phthisiopulmonology and Infectious Diseases
Russian Federation

Irina A. Vasilyeva - Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor, Head of the Department of Phthisiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University; Director, National Medical Research Center for Phthisiopulmonology and Infectious Diseases.

1, Ostrovityanov St., Moscow, 117997; 4, Bldg. 2, Dostoevsky St., Moscow, 127473



V. A. Romanenko
National Medical Research Center for Phthisiopulmonology and Infectious Diseases
Russian Federation

Valentina A. Romanenko - Phthisiologist of the Children’s Tuberculosis Department, National Medical Research Center for Phthisiopulmonology and Infectious Diseases.

4, Bldg. 2, Dostoevsky St., Moscow, 127473



N. I. Klevno
National Medical Research Center for Phthisiopulmonology and Infectious Diseases; Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University); Moscow Regional Research Clinical Institute named after M.F. Vladimirsky
Russian Federation

Nadezhda I. Klevno - Dr. Sci. (Med.), Chief Researcher of the Child and Adolescent Department, National Medical Research Center for Phthisiopulmonology and Infectious Diseases; Professor of the Perelman Department of Phthisiopulmonology and Thoracic Surgery, Sklifosovsky Institute of Clinical Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University); Professor of the Department of Phthisiology, Moscow Regional Research Clinical Institute named after M.F. Vladimirsky.

4, Bldg. 2, Dostoevsky St., Moscow, 127473; 8, Bldg. 2, Trubetskaya St., Moscow, 119048; 61/2, Bldg. 1, Schepkin St., Moscow, 129110



A. V. Kazakov
Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University; National Medical Research Center for Phthisiopulmonology and Infectious Diseases
Russian Federation

Alexey V. Kazakov - Dr. Sci. (Med.), Leading Researcher of the Child and Adolescent Department, National Medical Research Center for Phthisiopulmonology and Infectious Diseases; Professor of the Department of Phthisiology, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University.

4, Bldg. 2, Dostoevsky St., Moscow, 127473; 1, Ostrovityanov St., Moscow, 117997



D. A. Kudlay
Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University); Lomonosov Moscow State University; National Research Center – Institute of Immunology, Federal Medical-Biological Agency of Russia
Russian Federation

Dmitry A. Kudlay - Corr. Member RAS, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor of the Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University); Professor of the Department of Pharmacognosy and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Fundamental Medicine, Lomonosov Moscow State University; Leading Researcher of the Laboratory of Personalized Medicine and Molecular Immunology No. 71, National Research Center – Institute of Immunology, Federal Medical-Biological Agency of Russia.

8, Bldg. 2, Trubetskaya St., Moscow, 119991; 1, Lenin Hills, Moscow, 119991; 24, Kashirskoye Shosse, Moscow, 115478



N. P. Doktorova
National Medical Research Center for Phthisiopulmonology and Infectious Diseases
Russian Federation

Natalia P. Doktorova - Cand. Sci. (Med.), Researcher of the Department of Differential Diagnosis and Treatment of Tuberculosis and Comorbid Infections, National Medical Research Center for Phthisiopulmonology and Infectious Diseases.

4, Bldg. 2, Dostoevsky St., Moscow, 127473



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Vasilyeva IA, Romanenko VA, Klevno NI, Kazakov AV, Kudlay DA, Doktorova NP. The potential of immunodiagnostics for tuberculosis in children and adolescents with oncological diseases. Meditsinskiy sovet = Medical Council. 2026;(1):191-202. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.21518/ms2026-052

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