title: Screening and monitoring of latent tubercular infection in patients taking tumor necrosis factor-α blockers for psoriatic arthritis.
abstract: Patients with arthritis who need treatment with biologics are carefully screened for possible previous exposure to tuberculosis to detect any latent tubercular infection (LTBI). The traditional method of screening for LTBI is not specific, because positivity could also depend on infection by atypical mycobacteria and bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccination. In addition, the screening does not show high sensitivity, frequently presenting a false negativity because of immunosuppression caused by drugs used for arthritis. Recently, interferon-γ release assays (IGRA) have been used to screen LTBI with more sensitivity and specificity before treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor-α drugs. Moreover, in our experience, IGRA are potentially useful in monitoring LTBI during biologic therapy.
authors: Respiratory and Rheumatology Research Units, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Federico II, Naples, Italy. sanduzzi@unina.it
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Sanduzzi
authors: Marialuisa
authors: M
authors: Bocchino
authors: Mariangela
authors: M
authors: Atteno
authors: Luisa
authors: L
authors: Costa
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Ponticiello
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Matarese
authors: Angelo
authors: A
authors: Spanò
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: Bruner
authors: Rosario
authors: R
authors: Peluso
authors: Maria Maddalena
authors: MM
authors: Aquino
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Del Puente
authors: Raffaele
authors: R
authors: Scarpa
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D059425:Interferon-gamma Release Tests; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000472:pathogenicity; D018579:Patient Selection; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha