Clinical significance of CA-125 in elderly patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the clinical significance of serum CA-125 levels in elderly patients with pulmonary tuberculosis)PTB(. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 1613 participants–patients)aged ≥60 years(admitted to the Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Beijing, China from February 2015 to January 2021 and healthy participants, divided into 4 groups: PTB)group 1(, pulmonary malignancies)group 2(, pulmonary non-malignant diseases)group 3(, and healthy participants)group 4(. Data concerning demographics, physical examination findings, computed tomography, histopathological examination, and laboratory tests for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and serum CA-125 levels were collected and analyzed. Results: There were 720 healthy individuals and 893 patients in the study. The median levels and abnormal rates of CA-125 in groups 1)42.5, 57.3%(and 2)34.4, 49.5%(were higher than those in groups 3)21.1, 29.2%(and 4)8.6, 0.4%()p<0.05(. The ordinal logistic regression analysis model revealed significant associations between CA-125 levels and PTB)OR and 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.749)1.876-4.027((, hypoproteinemia [OR and 95% CI: 1.519)1.114-2.070(], serous effusion [OR and 95% CI: 7.364)5.346-10.143(], pulmonary malignancy [OR and 95% CI: 2.206)1.518-3.204(], respiratory failure [OR and 95% CI: 3.216)2.087-4.956(], and cor pulmonale [OR and 95% CI: 2.990)1.282-6.973(]. Conclusion: Although elevated CA-125 levels may serve as a potential marker for diagnosing PTB in the elderly, they are affected by multiple factors, including serous effusion. Hence, caution is warranted while using this marker.