Summary Despite a variety of therapeutic options that is available, treatment of warts remains challenging and rate of recurrence is high. Intralesional immunotherapy is an emerging therapy for warts. Tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) is one of the immunotherapeutic antigens used for the treatment of warts. Here we report a case of recalcitrant periungual wart successfully treated with tuberculin immunotherapy.
Tuberculin--therapeutic use ; Wart--therapy

PURPOSE: Diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in children is more challenging than in adults. This study aimed to describe demographical, clinical and laboratory findings of children diagnosed with tuberculosis in Turkey, including the issues of contact tracing, culture positivity and forms of the disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical and laboratory data of 51 children with a mean age of 8.0+/-4.6 years who were diagnosed with TB were retrospectively reviewed. Main diagnostic tools included tuberculin skin test, chest X-ray, sputum/gastric aspirate culture with sensitivity testing, and direct microscopy for acid-fast bacilli on available samples. Clinical characteristics and outcomes of the patients were examined. RESULTS: Thirty-six (70.6%) children were diagnosed with intra-thoracic and 15 (29.4%) with extra-thoracic tuberculosis. Twenty-eight of the patients had a positive Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine scar (28/51, 54.9%) and 23/51 (45.1%) had a positive tuberculin skin test. An adult TB contact was identified in 27 (52.9%) of the cases. On direct microscopy, acid-fast bacilli were found in nine (17.6%) patients and positive culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis was found in 19 (37.3%). Drug resistance to isoniazid was detected in four (7.8%). One patient with nephrotic syndrome and miliary tuberculosis died during follow-up. All other patients responded well to the treatment. CONCLUSION: Focusing on active contact tracing among all household contacts of tuberculous cases may be helpful in early identification and controlling childhood disease, even in regions with low disease prevalence. Adopting a suspicious and proactive approach in this particular age group is warranted.
Adolescent ; BCG Vaccine/metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Isoniazid/therapeutic use ; Male ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/pathogenicity ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Tuberculin/metabolism ; Tuberculin Test ; Tuberculosis/*diagnosis/drug therapy/metabolism ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/diagnosis/drug therapy/metabolism ; Turkey

OBJECTIVETo study the prevalence of skin positivity to purified protein derivative (PPD) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients in Hong Kong.

METHODSConsecutive clients of an HIV clinic were administered the PPD test and 2 units of PPD-RT23 were used. The area of induration was then measured in 48 to 72 h. Results were related to patient characteristics and HIV-related parameters.

RESULTSEight (17.0%) out of 47 clients tested positive to the administration of 2 units of PPD-RT23. If the cutoff were raised to 10 mm according to current practice, only two (4.3%) would test positive.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of PPD positivity in HIV-infected patients in Hong Kong is 17%, when a cutoff of 5 mm is used. This figure may form the basis for further studies on the utility of isoniazid preventive therapy in this group of patients.

Adult ; Aged ; BCG Vaccine ; immunology ; Female ; HIV Infections ; complications ; immunology ; Humans ; Isoniazid ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Tuberculin Test ; Tuberculosis ; prevention & control

There is no consensus on whether it is safe to re-administer tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) inhibitors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or ankylosing spondylitis (AS) flared after withdrawal of TNFalpha inhibitors due to active tuberculosis (TB). We evaluated the safety of restarting anti-TNFalpha therapy in patients with TNFalpha-associated TB. We used data of 1,012 patients with RA or AS treated with TNFalpha inhibitors at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital between January 2003 and July 2013 to identify patients who developed active TB. Demographic and clinical data including the results of tuberculin skin tests (TST) and interferon-gamma releasing assays (IGRA) were collected. Fifteen patients developed active TB. Five cases were occurred in RA and 10 cases in AS. Nine of 15 patients had a negative TST or IGRA and 6 TST-positive patients had received prophylaxis prior to initiating anti-TNFalpha therapy. All patients discontinued TNFalpha inhibitors with starting the treatment of TB. Eight patients were re-administered TNFalpha inhibitors due to disease flares and promptly improved without recurrence of TB. TNFalpha inhibitors could be safely resumed after starting anti-TB regimen in patients with RA or AS.
Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Antirheumatic Agents/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/*drug therapy ; Enzyme Inhibitors/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Hydroxychloroquine/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Immunoglobulin G/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Immunosuppressive Agents/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Interferon-gamma Release Tests ; Male ; Methotrexate/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/isolation & purification ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor/therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing/*drug therapy ; Tuberculin Test ; Tuberculosis/*chemically induced/microbiology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/*antagonists & inhibitors

BACKGROUND: We assessed the efficacy of serial interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in patients receiving immunosuppressive agents for treatment of rheumatic diseases in Korea. METHODS: Of 276 patients who underwent consecutive screening with one of two IGRAs [QuantiFERON-TB Gold or QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube], 66 patients were evaluated by the serial IGRA for detection of LTBI during therapy with immunosuppressive agents. Information on clinical diagnosis, medication, previous TB, blood cell count, tuberculin skin test, and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) level measured by IGRA was collected. RESULTS: Of the 66 patients, the initial IGRA was positive in 24.2%, negative in 65.2%, and indeterminate in 10.6%. Forty-six patients (69.7%) showed consistent IGRA results during follow-up, and 13 patients (19.7%) had consistently positive results. IGRA conversion rate was 12.1% (8/66) and reversion rate was 4.5% (3/66). Conversion of IGRA results was only observed in ankylosing spondylitis patients, and the median interval between the two tests in patients with conversion was 8.5 months. The mean IFN-gamma level in the group of patients with consistently positive IGRA results was higher than that in the group with inconsistently positive results, although this trend was not statistically significant (P=0.293). Indeterminate results were observed most frequently in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. CONCLUSIONS: In patients receiving immunosuppressive agents, both IGRA conversions and reversions were observed. Serial IGRA testing may not be needed in patients with a positive initial IGRA result showing high IFN-gamma levels, because of high consistency in the test results.
Adult ; Blood Cell Count ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents/*therapeutic use ; Interferon-gamma/*analysis ; *Interferon-gamma Release Tests ; Latent Tuberculosis/complications/*diagnosis/metabolism ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/complications/diagnosis/metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rheumatic Diseases/complications/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing/complications/diagnosis/metabolism ; Tuberculin Test

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Individuals being treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibitors are at increased risk of developing tuberculosis (TB). We determined the clinical characteristics and treatment response of patients who developed TB after using TNF-alpha inhibitors. METHODS: Patients with TB detected within 12 months of the initiation of TNF-alpha inhibitor treatment were included, if seen from January 1, 2000 to August 31, 2011. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records, results of bacteriological examinations, and radiographs of the included patients and the response to anti-TB treatment. RESULTS: We indentified seven cases of TB in 457 patients treated with TNF-alpha inhibitors during the study period. TB developed a median of 123 days (range, 48 to 331) after the first dose of TNF-alpha inhibitor. Pulmonary TB, including TB pleuritis, was diagnosed in three patients and extrapulmonary TB in four. Favorable treatment outcomes were achieved in six of seven patients. CONCLUSIONS: Among the TNF-alpha inhibitor users who contracted TB, extrapulmonary sites were common and the treatment response was satisfactory.
Adult ; Aged ; Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; *Immunocompromised Host ; Immunosuppressive Agents/*adverse effects ; Interferon-gamma Release Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Tuberculin Test ; Tuberculosis/diagnosis/drug therapy/*immunology/microbiology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/*antagonists & inhibitors

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features, histologic diagnosis and differential diagnosis of primary mucosal tuberculosis (TB) in the head and neck region.

METHODSForty-seven cases of primary mucosal TB of the head and neck region were studied by hematoxylin-eosin and Ziehl-Neelsen stains. The clinical and pathologic features were analyzed with review of the literature.

RESULTSThe patients included 26 male and 21 female, with mean age 47.1 years (range 14-84 years). There were three sinonasal TB, 19 nasopharyngeal TB, two oropharyngeal TB, 18 laryngeal TB, four middle ear TB, one salivary gland TB and one laryngeal TB complicating laryngeal cancer. The initial symptoms were nasal obstruction, mucopurulent rhinorrhea, epistaxis, snoring, hoarseness, dysphagia, odynophagia, serous otitis, hearing loss, tinnitus, and otalgia. Physical examination result was variable, from an apparently normal mucosa, to an evident mass, or a mucosa with an adenotic or swollen appearance, ulcers, leukoplakic areas, and various combinations thereof. CT and MRI findings included diffuse thickening, a soft-tissue mass, calcification within the mass and bone destruction resembling malignancy. Histologic examination showed granulomas with a central necrotic focus surrounded by epithelioid histiocytes and multinucleated Langhan's giant cells. Acid-fast bacilli were difficult to demonstrate but found in 13/45 cases. Follow-up data were available in 42 patients.

CONCLUSIONSPrimary TB arising in the head and neck mucosa is rare. It may mimic or co-exist with other conditions. The characteristic histopathology is a granuloma with central caseous necrosis and Langhans'giant cells. Identification of acid-fast bacilli and bacteriologic culture confirm the diagnosis of mycobacterial disease.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antitubercular Agents ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; complications ; microbiology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; complications ; microbiology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculin Test ; Tuberculosis ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Tuberculosis, Laryngeal ; complications ; surgery ; Tuberculosis, Oral ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Young Adult