Original Article


Diagnostic accuracy of interferon-gamma in pericardial effusions for tuberculous pericarditis: a meta-analysis

Chao Liu, Yun-Liang Cui, Chun-Mei Ding, Yan-Hua Wu, Hui-Li Li, Xiao-Fei Liu, Zhi-De Hu

Abstract

Background: Several studies have investigated the diagnostic accuracy of tests of pericardial effusion interferon-gamma for tuberculous pericarditis in patients with pericardial effusion, but the results have varied. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of interferon-gamma for tuberculous pericarditis using meta-analysis.
Methods: The PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched to identify studies investigating the diagnostic accuracy of tests for interferon-gamma in pericardial effusion for tuberculous pericarditis. The quality of eligible studies was assessed by the revised Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2), and the sensitivities and specificities of interferon-gamma across eligible studies were pooled by a bivariate model.
Results: A total of four studies encompassing 488 subjects were included. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios (NLRs) were 0.97 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.87–0.99], 0.99 (95% CI: 0.74–1.00), 187 (95% CI: 3–12,542) and 0.03 (95% CI: 0.01–0.14), respectively.
Conclusion: Testing for interferon-gamma in cases of pericardial effusion is adequate for identifying or ruling out tuberculous pericarditis.

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