title: Prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis taking biologic therapies in a dermatologic private practice in Miami, Florida.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The reactivation of a latent tuberculosis infection is one of the possible major events that may occur during biologic therapies for inflammatory chronic diseases such as psoriasis. Although its main screening test is regularly used in clinical practice, there are few studies about the prevalence of this silent mycobacterial infection and the rate of positive convertors during treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis receiving biologic therapy by using tuberculin skin test as a screening method and to evaluate the rate of conversion of tuberculin skin test (TST) during the treatment with biologics.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 445 patients were included in our retrospective study, conducted from January 2006 to September 2012. Tuberculin skin test was performed in all patients prior to treatment and once a year during the follow-up. PPD was considered positive with an induration above 5 mm, following the recommendations of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/ America Thoracic Society. Data analysis was obtained with SPSS 20.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of LTBI in our population before initiating the treatment was 4.5% by using TST screening method. During the treatment, 10 cases that were initially TST-negative became positive. Only one of the patients developed active tuberculosis infection. The other 9 TST-positive patients were detected during the regular annual screening, and no symptoms or findings on chest x-ray were seen. All the patients were treated with isoniazid (INH) for nine months, and biologic therapy was restarted after one month of treatment with INH without development of overt TB infection in any of them during the follow-up period of the study. The mean time to becoming TST positive from start date was 26.7 months (range from 8 months to 5 years). As the PPD was done annually, it is unknown exactly when the patients became TST positive. Prior to initiating treatment, 20 patients were found to be TST positive. All patients had clear chest x-rays and were treated with nine months of INH prior to initiating biologic therapy at least month later.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of a screening tool for LTBI is mandatory in patients taking biologic therapies to avoid severe infectious complications. Periodic follow-up is also crucial as positive results may be seen after prolonged use of these agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Miami Hospital, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Medina-Gil
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Miami Hospital, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dehesa
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Miami Hospital, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Adriane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vega
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Miami Hospital, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kerdel
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003880:Dermatology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000068800:Etanercept / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011331:Private Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D000069549:Ustekinumab / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D001688:Biological Products; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; C529000:golimumab; D000069285:Infliximab; D000069549:Ustekinumab; D000068879:Adalimumab; D000068800:Etanercept; D007538:Isoniazid; C472181:efalizumab