Bikila Nagasa, Atsbeha Gebreegziabxier, Feyissa Challa, Meron Silashi, Zeleke Geto, Tigist Getahun, Genet Ashebir, Abenezer Ayalkebet, Tadesse Lejisa, Yosef Tolcha, Demiraw Bikila, Wossene Habtu and Desta Kassa
Objective: Cancer antigen125 (CA-125) test is the most frequently used biomarker for ovarian cancer, but according to some literatures CA125 test can discriminate active pulmonary tuberculosis from inactive cases in tuberculosis (TB) patients. Therefore the objective of this work was to further study application of CA-125 test in identification of active tuberculosis from inactive cases and for evaluation of response to anti-TB treatment.
Methods: Plasma CA125 of 30 patients with active tuberculosis cases (group 1), 19 cases with inactive tuberculosis (group 2) and 28 healthy subjects (group 3) was measured and compared. Measurement of CA-125 was done only once in group 2 and 3 but it was repeated in group 1 at two and six month of anti-TB treatment. Independent t-test was used to compare CA125 level between groups and paired t-test was used to compare CA125 level within group 1 at baseline, two month and six month of anti-TB treatment.
Result: Concentrations of CA-125 were 96.08 ± 122.23, 12.05 ± 12.57, 7.71 ± 8.12 U/mL (mean ± SD) in group 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Level CA-125 was significantly higher in group 1 than in other groups (p<0.001); but there was no statistical significant difference between group 2 and group 3 (p>0.05). Level of CA-125 in group 1 at six month of anti-TB treatments was not statistically significant difference to level in Group 2 and Group 3 (p>0.05). Concentration of CA-125 in group 1 decreased significantly from 96.08 ± 122.23 to 22.24 ± 20.57 and 13.42 ± 10.35 U/mL (p<0.05) at baseline, 2 month and 6 month of anti-TB treatment respectively.
Conclusion: This study result confirms that CA-125 test can be used to identify active tuberculosis from inactive cases and for evaluation of response to anti-TB treatment. This test can also be used for detecting tuberculosis activity in cases sputum examination cannot be performed and cases with negative sputum.