title: Comparison of LTBI treatment regimens for patients receiving anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy.
abstract: METHODS
  A tertiary referral centre in South Korea.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the completion rates and adverse drug reactions of three latent tuberculous infection (LTBI) treatment regimens for patients receiving anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 408 patients were diagnosed with LTBI before receiving anti-TNF therapy between December 2004 and December 2013. Nine months of isoniazid (9H), 4 months of rifampicin (4H) or 3 months of isoniazid/rifampicin (3HR) were prescribed. The results were analysed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the 408 study subjects was 44 years; 258 (63.2%) were male. The 9H, 4R and 3HR treatment regimens were given to respectively 61 (15.0%), 139 (34.1%) and 208 (51.0%) patients. A total of 362 (88.7%) patients completed the treatment. The treatment completion rate was highest in patients receiving 3HR (94.2%). Of the 408 patients, 54 (13.2%) had one or more adverse drug reactions; their frequency was similar in the three groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients receiving anti-TNF therapy, 3HR seems to be the most acceptable treatment regimen for LTBI, given its high completion rate and acceptable rate of adverse drug reactions.
authors: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: S-J
authors: SJ
authors: Park
authors: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: K-W
authors: KW
authors: Jo
authors: Department of Rheumatology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Yoo
authors: Department of Rheumatology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: C-K
authors: CK
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Rheumatology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Y-G
authors: YG
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: S-K
authors: SK
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: J-S
authors: JS
authors: Byeon
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: K-J
authors: KJ
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: B D
authors: BD
authors: Ye
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: S-H
authors: SH
authors: Park
authors: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: T S
authors: TS
authors: Shim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000904:Antibiotics, Antitubercular / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000904:Antibiotics, Antitubercular; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007538:Isoniazid; D012293:Rifampin