The conundrum of indeterminate QuantiFERON-TB Gold results before anti-tumor necrosis factor initiation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) is a key cytokine in both the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the host defense against tuberculosis (TB). Consequently, anti-TNFα medications result in an increased risk of latent TB infection (LTBI) reactivation. Here, we sought to evaluate the factors affecting the results of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) assay as a screening tool for LTBI.

Methods

We conducted an observational, retrospective study in patients with IBD and RA who underwent LTBI screening using QFT-GIT at UMass Memorial Medical Center between 2008 and 2016 prior to initiation of anti-TNF medications.

Results

We included 107 and 89 patients with IBD and RA, respectively. We found that a higher prop

SUBMITTER: Hakimian S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5834167 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature