MBLA to Differentiate IRIS From Treatment Failure in Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis (MBLA_IRIS)

August 26, 2026 updated by: Thomas Theo Brehm, Research Center Borstel

The Molecular Bacterial Load Assay (MBLA) to Differentiate Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome (IRIS) From Treatment Failure in Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis With Paradoxical Lymph Node Swelling.

This prospective, multi-center study aims to evaluate the Molecular Bacterial Load Assay (MBLA) on lymph node aspirates as a tool to distinguish between late immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) and treatment failure in patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) presenting with paradoxical lymph node swelling. The study will compare MBLA results with Xpert MTB/RIF and culture findings and assess their correlation with patient outcomes. By quantifying viable M. tuberculosis via 16S rRNA detection, MBLA may offer a rapid, culture-independent method to inform clinical decisions and reduce overtreatment.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

100

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • Germany
      • Borstel, Germany, 23845
        • Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients with tuberculosis and progressive or persistant lymphadenopathy after at least 3 months of TB treatment will be recruited at the study sites. Eligible patients will be contacted by the clinicians responsible for TB treatment and/or follow-up care or by the local principal investigator.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patient with extrapulmonary tuberculosis
  • Progressive or persistant lymphadenopathy
  • Treatment for tuberculosis for at least 3 months
  • Age ≥ 18 years
  • Capacity to provide informed consent
  • Written informed consent to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Lack of capacity to provide informed consent
  • Age < 18 years

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis and lymph node swelling
Diagnostic test: MBLA from routine lymph node aspirate
Lymph node aspirates that are collected for routine diagnosis will be split if material is sufficient. A part of the material will be assessed with MBLA for living Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Concordance with culture results
Time Frame: 2029
Concordance of MBLA results with liquid culture results (number and percentage of patients that were positive in both tests, only in one test, or negative in both tests).
2029
Correlation of MBLA with clinical decision-making and patient outcomes
Time Frame: 2029
Correlation of MBLA with clinical decision-making and composit patient outcome, including treatment extension or modification, long-term resolution of lymphadenopathy (number and percentage of patients in subgroups defined by: MBLA positive or negative; decision to treat or not to treat for potential relapse (not based on MBLA); clinical improvement or deterioration)
2029

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Detection of non-viable bacilli
Time Frame: 2029
Proportion of patients with positive Xpert MTB/RIF but negative MBLA, indicating possible detection of non-viable bacilli.
2029
Treatment modification or extension based on clinical suspicion of failure or IRIS
Time Frame: 2029
Rate of treatment modification or extension based on clinical suspicion of failure or IRIS, and its alignment with MBLA findings.
2029
Clinical outcomes
Time Frame: 2029
Number of patients with complete resolution/persistent disease, need for retreatment or escalation of therapy.
2029

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Research Center Borstel

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

September 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

September 1, 2029

Study Completion (Estimated)

September 1, 2030

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 17, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 17, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

August 21, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 31, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 26, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • MBLA_IRIS

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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