Delineating the Significance of Several Inflammatory Markers in a Lung Tuberculosis Cohort During the Active and Post-Tuberculosis Stages of the Disease: An Observational Study in Cape Town, South Africa (2019 to 2024).

Abstract

Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) frequently leads to long-term lung complications that contribute to increased mortality. Understanding the pathogenesis of post-TB lung impairments is crucial for improving long-term outcomes in TB patients; yet this area remains poorly researched.

Methods: Our study assessed circulatory inflammatory markers in patients who completed TB treatment more than one year before enrolment (population 1) and patients receiving in-hospital treatment for active drug-sensitive TB (population 2).

Results: IL-6 was seven times higher in both populations compared to the normal range. IL-8 was below the limit of detection (LOD) in population 1, while it was approximately 2.5 times higher in population 2 compared to the normal range. TNF-α was 21 times higher in population 1 and 19 times higher in population 2 compared to the normal range. CRP was almost 49 times higher in both populations, and IL-1Ra was below the LOD in population 1, while it was ~1.5 times higher in population 2 compared to the normal range.

Conclusions: These inflammatory biomarkers correlated well with lung function in the post-TB state, and their high levels suggest a persistent pro-inflammatory state post-TB, which may contribute to post-TB lung disease. More research is warranted to better understand this phenomenon, but these findings may highlight a need to consider anti-inflammatory therapy for patients with post-TB lung disease, especially since these high levels of cytokines can directly contribute to lung damage.