J Korean Med Sci.  2014 Aug;29(8):1090-1093. 10.3346/jkms.2014.29.8.1090.

Follow-up Testing of Interferon-Gamma Release Assays Are Useful in Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients Receiving Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha for Latent Tuberculosis Infection

• Son CN
• Jun JB
• Kim JH
• Sung IH
• Yoo DH
• Kim TH

• KMID: 2129603
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2014.29.8.1090

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-TNFalpha). The study participants (n=127) had a negative IGRA screening before receiving anti-TNFalpha 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-TNFalpha, including type and treatment duration. The median duration of anti-TNFalpha 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-TNFalpha in Korea. A follow-up IGRA test can be helpful for identifying LTBI or new tuberculosis in AS patients receiving anti-TNFalpha.

Keyword

Ankylosing Spondylitis; Interferon-Gamma Release Assay; Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor; Latent Tuberculosis Infection

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Antibodies, Monoclonal/*adverse effects/*therapeutic use
Antirheumatic Agents/adverse effects/therapeutic use
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Interferon-gamma/*blood
Latent Tuberculosis/*blood/*chemically induced/diagnosis
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Middle Aged
Prognosis
Reproducibility of Results
Sensitivity and Specificity
Spondylitis, Ankylosing/blood/*drug therapy
Treatment Outcome
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/antagonists & inhibitors
Antibodies, Monoclonal
Antirheumatic Agents
Interferon-gamma
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

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