OBJECTIVE To investigate the diagnostic value of Mycobacterium tuberculosis loop-mediated isothermal amplification (TB-LAMP) combined with cytokines interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) for active pulmonary tuberculosis (APTB).

METHODS A total of 194 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis admitted to Hebei Chest Hospital from Jun. 2022 to Jun. 2024 were selected. Stratified regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between different clinicopathological characteristics and TB-LAMP positivity rate, IL-2 and IFN-γ levels. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to analyze risk factors associated with the onset of APTB. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUC) were used to predict the diagnostic efficacy of TB-LAMP positivity rate, cytokines IL-2 and IFN-γ for APTB, with stratified comparisons by age and gender.

RESULTS Statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of cavity, patchy shadows, TB-LAMP positivity rate, tuberculoma, albumin (Alb), IFN-γ, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT) and IL-2 (P < 0.05). Clinical features such as cavity, tuberculoma and patchy shadows were associated with increased TB-LAMP positivity rate and elevated levels of cytokines IL-2 and IFN-γ (P < 0.05). TB-LAMP positivity rate, IFN-γ and IL-2 were identified as influencing factors for APTB (P < 0.05). The combined diagnosis of APTB based on TB-LAMP positivity rate, cytokines IL-2 and IFN-γ achieved an AUC of 0.914, which was higher than that of individual diagnosis. In the 61-70 and 71-80 year groups, as well as in both male and female groups, the combined detection of TB-LAMP positivity rate, cytokines IL-2 and IFN-γ demonstrated the best diagnostic efficacy.

CONCLUSION TB-LAMP combined with cytokines IL-2 and IFN-γ exhibits good clinical utility in diagnosing APTB and can be applied for APTB diagnosis in clinical practice.