Immunological evidence of incipient tuberculosis

Background: The term incipient tuberculosis has been suggested for early tuberculosis with containment of disease, defined by radiographic abnormalities in asymptomatic, relatively immunocompetent individuals (Achkar JM et al, (2011), J Infect Dis 2011 Nov 15;204 Suppl 4: S1179–86). However, radiological abnormalities are not specific tuberculosis. Results/Methods: We present for the first time immunological evidence of incipient pulmonary tuberculosis based on Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). The immunological findings in five asymptomatic tuberculosis contact pe…