Development of tuberculosis in immunocompromised patients with a positive tuberculosis-specific IGRA.
There is a lack of data on the predictive value of tuberculosis (TB) specific interferon-gamma release assays (TIGRAs) for both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. We retrospectively followed up 460 such patients after QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) testing (mean follow-up 28 months) by reviewing patient charts. A total of 1/38 QFT-GIT-positive and no QFT-GIT-negative patients developed active TB. The incidence rate of progression to active TB assessed retrospectively in these patients after positive TIGRA was therefore low (1.2 events/100 person-years). The need for careful follow-up and prophylactic therapy after positive TIGRA in this patient group needs to be evaluated prospectively.
Center for Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. berit.lange@uniklinik-freiburg.de
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B
Lange
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Vavra
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Kern
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Wagner
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D015994:Incidence; D059425:Interferon-gamma Release Tests / Q000379:methods*; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis*