BACKGROUND & AIM: Screening for latent tuberculosis (LTB) is recommended before starting anti-TNF-alpha therapy. We compared the performance of Quantiferon-TB Gold (QFT-G) with the tuberculin skin test (TST) for the screening of LTB in a population of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients who were candidates for anti-TNF-α therapy. METHODS: Ninety-two IBD patients who were candidates for anti-TNF-α therapy were tested with QTF-G and TST. Concomitant therapy and laboratory parameters were recorded. RESULTS: One subject was vaccinated with Bacille Calmette Guèrin (BCG), 76% of patients were on immunosuppressive therapy (IST), and all patients had a negative TB history and negative chest X-ray. Agreement between the two tests was observed in 89.2% of patients (79.4% +/+, 9.8% -/-), QFT-G+/TST- was observed in 4.4% (4) patients, and QFT-G-/TST+ was observed in 5.5%, one of which was previously vaccinated. All disagreements were observed in patients on IST (14.3% in this group). The agreement analysis showed moderate strength among the patients (k=0.508), while the agreement was only fair in the subgroup of patients on IST (k=0.388). CONCLUSION: Given the high risk of LTB reactivation in patients subjected to anti-TNF-α therapy, our results suggest that in our population, with low TB rate and very low BCG vaccination rate, both tests could be employed.

Andrisani, G., Armuzzi, A., Papa, A., Marzo, M., Felice, C., Pugliese, D., De Vitis, I., Rapaccini, G. L., Guidi, L., Comparison of Quantiferon-TB Gold versus tuberculin skintest for tuberculosis screening in inflammatory bowel disease patients., <<JOURNAL OF GASTROINTESTINAL AND LIVER DISEASES>>, 2013; 22(1) (Marzo): 21-25 [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/43478]

Comparison of Quantiferon-TB Gold versus tuberculin skin test for tuberculosis screening in inflammatory bowel disease patients.

Andrisani, Gianluca;Armuzzi, Alessandro;Papa, Alfredo;Marzo, Manuela;Felice, Carla;Pugliese, Daniela;De Vitis, Italo;Rapaccini, Gian Ludovico;Guidi, Luisa
2013

Abstract

BACKGROUND & AIM: Screening for latent tuberculosis (LTB) is recommended before starting anti-TNF-alpha therapy. We compared the performance of Quantiferon-TB Gold (QFT-G) with the tuberculin skin test (TST) for the screening of LTB in a population of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients who were candidates for anti-TNF-α therapy. METHODS: Ninety-two IBD patients who were candidates for anti-TNF-α therapy were tested with QTF-G and TST. Concomitant therapy and laboratory parameters were recorded. RESULTS: One subject was vaccinated with Bacille Calmette Guèrin (BCG), 76% of patients were on immunosuppressive therapy (IST), and all patients had a negative TB history and negative chest X-ray. Agreement between the two tests was observed in 89.2% of patients (79.4% +/+, 9.8% -/-), QFT-G+/TST- was observed in 4.4% (4) patients, and QFT-G-/TST+ was observed in 5.5%, one of which was previously vaccinated. All disagreements were observed in patients on IST (14.3% in this group). The agreement analysis showed moderate strength among the patients (k=0.508), while the agreement was only fair in the subgroup of patients on IST (k=0.388). CONCLUSION: Given the high risk of LTB reactivation in patients subjected to anti-TNF-α therapy, our results suggest that in our population, with low TB rate and very low BCG vaccination rate, both tests could be employed.
2013
Inglese
Andrisani, G., Armuzzi, A., Papa, A., Marzo, M., Felice, C., Pugliese, D., De Vitis, I., Rapaccini, G. L., Guidi, L., Comparison of Quantiferon-TB Gold versus tuberculin skintest for tuberculosis screening in inflammatory bowel disease patients., <<JOURNAL OF GASTROINTESTINAL AND LIVER DISEASES>>, 2013; 22(1) (Marzo): 21-25 [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/43478]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10807/43478
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