title: Usefulness of QuantiFERON®-TB Gold test in psoriatic patients under treatment with tumour necrosis factor blockers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Infliximab is a human/mouse chimeric anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α antibody that is effective in the management of psoriasis. Anti-TNF treatments may reactivate latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI); therefore, screening for LTBI is mandatory before starting any anti-TNF-α therapy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold (QFT-G) test in psoriatic patients under treatment with infliximab.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study had been performed on patients affected by psoriasis who had been treated with infliximab from 2003 to 2012 at a single centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  QFT-G was tested by a standard TB enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, based on detection of interferon-γ release from sensitized leucocytes exposed to the synthetic Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens at baseline and every 6 months until the end of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 140 patients were included. At baseline, 7 QFT-G tests were positive and 133 tests were negative. Of the 133 patients, 11 (8%) who were negative at baseline became QFT-G test positive during treatment. Of those 11 patients, 5 had a reversion during treatment. Of the 133 patients, 122 (92%) who were negative at baseline remained negative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was found that the development of positive QFT-G tests, observed in 8% treated with infliximab, was not associated with pulmonary or extra-pulmonary tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: University of Rome Tor Vergata, Division of Dermatology, Department of Internal Medicine , Rome , Italy +390620902743 ; +390620902742 ; rositasaraceno@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Rosita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saraceno
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Specchio
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiricozzi
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sarmati
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amicosante
authors.forename: Maria Sole
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Chimenti
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chimenti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014374:Tuberculin Test / Q000379:methods; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; C573415:IFNG protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C072681:Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens; D006046:Gold; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000069285:Infliximab