title: Follow-up testing of interferon-gamma release assays are useful in ankylosing spondylitis patients receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha for latent tuberculosis infection.
abstract: We evaluated the utility of follow-up interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) for the diagnosis of reactivation of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) or new tuberculosis in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFα). The study participants (n=127) had a negative IGRA screening before receiving anti-TNFα and were evaluated by follow-up IGRA. We retrospectively examined data of the subjects according to age, gender, tuberculosis prophylaxis, concomitant medications, IGRA conversion and anti-TNFα, including type and treatment duration. The median duration of anti-TNFα was 21.5 months, and the median age was 35.3 yr. Of the 127 patients, IGRA conversion was found in 10 patients (7.9%). There was no significant variation between IGRA conversion rate and any risk factors except for age. IGRA conversion rate was not significantly different between AS and rheumatoid arthritis (P=0.12). IGRA conversion was observed in AS patients receiving anti-TNFα in Korea. A follow-up IGRA test can be helpful for identifying LTBI or new tuberculosis in AS patients receiving anti-TNFα.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang-Nam
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1722-2190
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Son
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Hanyang University Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Bum
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0208-0505
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hanyang University Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Heon
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9648-0066
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hanyang University Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Il-Hoon
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4757-5210
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Hanyang University Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dae-Hyun
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0643-4008
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Hanyang University Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Hwan
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3542-2276
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: Ankylosing Spondylitis; Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor; Interferon-Gamma Release Assay; Latent Tuberculosis Infection