<![CDATA[Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health problem, with an increasing incidence of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) contributing to low treatment success rates. This study aimed to evaluate the association between serum CXCL11 levels and chest X-ray severity in pulmonary tuberculosis and to compare CXCL11 levels between drug-sensitive and drug-resistant tuberculosis patients. Methods: This was an observational analytic study with a cross-sectional design. The study subjects were patients with drug-sensitive tuberculosis (DS-TB) and DR-TB who were hospitalized or followed up. Serum CXCL11 levels were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Chest X-ray findings were assessed based on the severity of pulmonary lesions. Statistical analysis was performed to compare CXCL11 levels and chest X-ray severity between the two groups and to evaluate the correlation between them. Results: CXCL11 levels were higher in patients with DR-TB compared to those with DS-TB. Chest X-ray findings in DR-TB patients showed greater severity, with more extensive lesions and multiple cavitations. A significant correlation was found between CXCL11 levels and the severity of radiological findings in both DS-TB and DR-TB patients (r = 0.477; P<0.05). Conclusion: CXCL11 levels are higher in patients with DR-TB than in those with DS-TB and are associated with the severity of chest X-ray findings. CXCL11 has the potential to be used as an inflammatory biomarker to assist in stratifying drug sensitivity in tuberculosis patients.]]>
