Potential auxiliary diagnostic role of pentraxin 3 in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for pulmonary tuberculosis

Plasma PTX3 levels have limited diagnostic utility in distinguishing tuberculosis from other pulmonary conditions, whereas BALF PTX3 levels exhibit more possible auxiliary diagnosis ability as an auxiliary diagnostic indicator, offering a localized assessment of lung inflammation. BALF PTX3 could be a helpful adjunct in diagnosing TB, particularly in cases where conventional sputum-based tests are inconclusive. Further research is needed to validate these findings.