Position paper on tuberculosis screening in patients with immune mediated inflammatory diseases candidates for biological therapy.
Chronic immunosuppression is a known risk factor for tuberculosis. Our aim was to reach a consensus on screening and prevention of tuberculosis in patients with immune mediated inflammatory diseases candidates to biologic therapy.


METHODS
Critical appraisal of the literature and expert opinion on immunosuppressive therapies and risk of tuberculosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The currently recommended method for screening is the tuberculin skin test and the interferon gamma assay, after exclusion of active tuberculosis. Positively screened patients should be treated for latent tuberculosis infection. Patients may start biological therapy after 1 to 2 months, as long as they are strictly adhering to and tolerating their preventive regimen.
Centro de Referência de Tuberculose Multi-resistente da Região Norte. rdmelo@med.up.pt
R
R
Duarte
S
S
Campainha
J
J
Cotter
B
B
Rosa
P
P
Varela
A
A
Correia
H
H
Canhão
J E
JE
Fonseca
D001691:Biological Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D008403:Mass Screening; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis*