Follow-Up Testing Of Interferon-Gamma Release Assays For The Diagnosis Of Hidden Tuberculosis Infection In Patients Receiving Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Antagonists

Abstract

Anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (Anti-TNF ) therapy is often used in patients with rheumatic diseases who do not respond to conventional treatment. Risk of tuberculosis infection is high in patients receiving anti-TNF treatments. Therefore, tuberculosis infection prophylaxes are recommended prior to anti-TNF therapy if a tuberculin skin test or interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) is positive. However, little data is available on the conversion of IGRAs in patients with rheumatic diseases who received anti-TNF treatment. We evaluated the utility of follow-up IGRAs for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection and newly developing tuberculosis in patients receiving TNF antagonists.