Blood biomarkers for tuberculosis diagnosis in HIV patients

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among people living with HIV. Despite advancements in diagnostic methods, significant limitations remain, particularly for immunocompromised patients. In this context, identifying specific blood biomarkers has emerged as a promising alternative for early and non-invasive TB detection, especially in resource-limited settings.

Screening for Tuberculosis in HIV Patients: Can Blood Biomarkers Make a Difference?

This study analyzed 65 trials, involving more than 16,000 patients, and explored 156 blood protein biomarkers.

The results indicate that blood biomarkers offer a promising alternative for TB screening among people living with HIV. For instance, C-reactive protein demonstrates a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 59% in this population. Similarly, markers such as IP-10, NCAM-1, and SAA also stand out. Finally, multi-biomarker signatures, which combine several proteins, show superior performance.

Despite these advances, broader clinical validation and the development of accessible point-of-care tests remain essential.

Towards a more accurate and accessible diagnosis of tuberculosis in HIV infection

Blood biomarkers represent a significant advancement for rapid and non-invasive TB screening in HIV patients. They pave the way for earlier and improved TB management, particularly in low-resource settings. However, several challenges remain, including validating these biomarkers in diverse cohorts, developing affordable point-of-care tests, and enhancing research on multi-biomarker signatures to optimize diagnostic efficiency.