الفهرس 
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Abstract
Pulmonary tuberculosis is a world health problem which resides in one third of
the population in the form of latent infection in ninety percent of them and active
disease in the remaining part. Many investigations had been proposed for diagnosis
of tuberculous infection beside the informative history and clinical evaluation.
These investigations included radiological methods, staining techniques with
microscopic examination, culturing of bacillus-containing samples and
immunological detection by tuberculin skin test.
A new technique based on immunological reaction to the tuberculous antigens
has been introduced, called T.SPOT TB test which detects INF-g released from
activated T-lymphocytes. In our study, we tried to review the effect of a full course
of anti-tuberculous treatment on the results of T.SPOT TB test.
In our study, T.SPOT TB test was performed on two groups: the first group
included 25 patients who had been proven to suffer from active pulmonary
tuberculosis by positive culturing for tuberculosis after they have received a full
course of 6 months of anti-tuberculous therapy, and the second group was a control
group of 10 healthy individuals.
The results revealed that 84% of patients were T.SPOT TB test positive after a
full course of anti-tuberculous therapy while only 16% were negative. Tuberculin
skin test was positive in only 52% of patients which reveals higher sensitivity of
T.SPOT TB test. Cultures were positive in 8.3% of patients after the full course of
treatment.
In conclusion, post-treatment follow-up of patients with a history of active TB
disease by IGRA testing is a weak provider of treatment monitoring. Since
conversion of IGRA results might be later than smear conversion results of clinical
specimens, we should not consider IGRA test as surrogate markers of cure or
predictors of disease relapse.