Follow-up Testing of Interferon-Gamma Release Assays Are Useful in Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients Receiving Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha for Latent Tuberculosis Infection.
10.3346/jkms.2014.29.8.1090
- Author:
Chang Nam SON
1
;
Jae Bum JUN
;
Jong Heon KIM
;
Il Hoon SUNG
;
Dae Hyun YOO
;
Tae Hwan KIM
Author Information
1. Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center, Daegu, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Ankylosing Spondylitis;
Interferon-Gamma Release Assay;
Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor;
Latent Tuberculosis Infection
- MeSH:
Adult;
Aged;
Aged, 80 and over;
Antibodies, Monoclonal/*adverse effects/*therapeutic use;
Antirheumatic Agents/adverse effects/therapeutic use;
Female;
Follow-Up Studies;
Humans;
Interferon-gamma/*blood;
Latent Tuberculosis/*blood/*chemically induced/diagnosis;
Longitudinal Studies;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Prognosis;
Reproducibility of Results;
Sensitivity and Specificity;
Spondylitis, Ankylosing/blood/*drug therapy;
Treatment Outcome;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/antagonists & inhibitors
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2014;29(8):1090-1093
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
We evaluated the utility of follow-up interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) for the diagnosis of reactivation of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) or new tuberculosis in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFalpha). The study participants (n=127) had a negative IGRA screening before receiving anti-TNFalpha and were evaluated by follow-up IGRA. We retrospectively examined data of the subjects according to age, gender, tuberculosis prophylaxis, concomitant medications, IGRA conversion and anti-TNFalpha, including type and treatment duration. The median duration of anti-TNFalpha was 21.5 months, and the median age was 35.3 yr. Of the 127 patients, IGRA conversion was found in 10 patients (7.9%). There was no significant variation between IGRA conversion rate and any risk factors except for age. IGRA conversion rate was not significantly different between AS and rheumatoid arthritis (P=0.12). IGRA conversion was observed in AS patients receiving anti-TNFalpha in Korea. A follow-up IGRA test can be helpful for identifying LTBI or new tuberculosis in AS patients receiving anti-TNFalpha.