Background: This study sought to evaluate the relationship between interleukin 18 (IL-18), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB).
Methods: We searched multiple databases, such as PubMed, Embase, Cochrane and China National Knowledge Database, for full-text articles on IL-18, IFN-γ, and TB. Bias risk tool in Review Manager 5.2 was used to evaluate the seven kinds of bias. We used Review Manager 5.2 to evaluate the effects of the results in the selected articles, analyzed the heterogeneity of the included articles to make a forest map, and undertook a sensitivity analysis and publication bias analysis.
Results: Ultimately, 10 studies met the inclusion criteria, and were subjected to a data analysis. IL-18 was higher in the TB group than the health control (HC) group [mean difference (MD) =248.11, 95% confidence interval CI: 197.25, 298.98, P<0.0001; I2=63%]. The meta-analysis also showed that IFN-γ was higher in the TB group than the HC group (MD =38.74, 95% CI: 14.84, 62.64, P=0.001; I2=100%). Sensitivity analysis proved the robustness of this research and limited publication bias was observed in this study.
Discussion: This study showed that IL-18 and IF-γ had a relationship with TB and might be used to help diagnose TB, which might be helpful in the clinical diagnosis about TB.
Keywords: Interleukin 18 (IL-18); interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ); meta-analysis; tuberculosis (TB).