Variations of tuberculin skin test in patients with rheumatologic disorders and under anti-TNF treatment
Abstract
Aim: Nowadays PPD is the most inexpensive and easy to apply modality of test in identification of latent tuberculosis infection. Isoniazid (INH) prophylaxis must be given before usage of anti-TNF-α agents for patients. We aimed to investigate the change in Tuberculin skin test (TST) levels and Isoniazid (INH) prophylaxis rates in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) agents.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was planned. Patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases treated with anti-TNF agents were included in the study. Demographic data, initial TST level and INH prophylaxis had obtained from patient’s files. Control TST tests had done at tuberculosis dispensaries in different time periods such as 1-2 / 2-3 / 3-4 / ≥4 years of anti TNF treatment. INH prophylaxis rates according to initial and control TST tests were compared. The relationship between INH prophylaxis and duration of anti-TNF therapy were examined.
Results: A total of 117 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients (81 male, 36 female) was 40.4±12.90. The control TST levels was significantly higher than initial TST (p=0.001). INH prophylaxis was given to total 99 (84.6%) of 117 patients (to 63 (53.8%) according to initial and to 36 (30.8%) according to control TST tests). There was no relationship between duration of anti TNF therapy and INH prophylaxis initiation (p=0.180).
Conclusion: Anti-TNF treatments may reduce the rates of false-negative TST in patients with rheumatic diseases and latent tuberculosis (LTBI) at any stage of the treatment. Therefore, LTBI, which is not determined with initial TST tests, may be determined with TST test applied in the later stages of anti-TNF treatment, and the risk of active tuberculosis can be reduced by INH prophylaxis in this patients.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Clinical Sciences
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Tayfun Özdemir
This is me
0000-0002-1999-7002
Türkiye
Serpil Tuna
0000-0001-8717-1141
Türkiye
Özlem Karataş
*
0000-0003-3053-9333
Türkiye
Mehmet İhsan Arman
This is me
0000-0002-3433-8101
Türkiye
Publication Date
March 15, 2019
Submission Date
March 8, 2019
Acceptance Date
March 12, 2019
Published in Issue
Year 2019 Volume: 3 Number: 3