title: The booster phenomenon in 2-step tuberculin skin testing of patients receiving long-term hemodialysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tuberculosis remains a significant health problem for patients receiving long-term hemodialysis (HD). The tuberculin skin test (TST) is an important method for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. This study examined the significance and frequency of the booster phenomenon in serial TST of HD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-three outpatients in a hospital-based HD center in Turkey were screened for tuberculosis with the TST between August and October 1999. To determine the frequency of booster phenomenon, patients with less than 10 mm indurations to the initial TST were given a second test 7 days later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen (35.8%) of 53 patients had a significant tuberculin reaction (> or = 10 mm) on the initial TST. The booster effect was detected in 10 (29.4%) of 34 patients who had a negative reaction (< 10 mm) to the initial test. Overall, 29 (54.7%) patients showed a significant reaction on both tests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results showed significant rates of TST positivity and the booster effect in this HD center.
authors: Hacettepe Universty Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Akcay
authors: Yunus
authors: Y
authors: Erdem
authors: Bulent
authors: B
authors: Altun
authors: Celalettin
authors: C
authors: Usalan
authors: Erhan
authors: E
authors: Agca
authors: Unal
authors: U
authors: Yasavul
authors: Cetin
authors: C
authors: Turgan
authors: Sali
authors: S
authors: Caglar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D014374:Tuberculin Test / Q000379:methods*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology