Chest roentgenography is complementary to interferon-gamma release assay in latent tuberculosis infection screening of rheumatic patients

Abstract Background A study of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) burden by chest roentgenography (CXR) with reference to interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) is still lacking in rheumatic patients of an intermediate tuberculosis burden area. Methods We retrospectively reviewed clinical data of p...

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Main Authors: Ping-Huai Wang, Chou-Han Lin, Ting-Hui Chang, Chien-Sheng Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2020-08-01
Series:BMC Pulmonary Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12890-020-01274-9
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author Ping-Huai Wang
Chou-Han Lin
Ting-Hui Chang
Chien-Sheng Wu
author_facet Ping-Huai Wang
Chou-Han Lin
Ting-Hui Chang
Chien-Sheng Wu
author_sort Ping-Huai Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background A study of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) burden by chest roentgenography (CXR) with reference to interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) is still lacking in rheumatic patients of an intermediate tuberculosis burden area. Methods We retrospectively reviewed clinical data of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), or psoriatic arthritis (PsA) receiving LTBI screening for biologics from Jan 2013 to April 2014. Results A total of 238 rheumatic patients who underwent LTBI screening were included in this study, of whom 46 (19.3%) had positive IGRA tests, 178 (74.8%) had negative results, and 14 (5.9%) had indeterminate results. Radiological findings suggesting healed tuberculosis (CXR-old-TB) were found in 18.1% of all patients, 23.9% in the IGRA -positive patients vs 16.9% in the IGRA-negative patients (OR 1.55 95% CI: 0.71–3.39, p = 0.27). Forty (40/46, 87.0%) IGRA-positive patients received isoniazid prophylaxis and 77.5% of them finished treatment. Six patients developed adverse effects of isoniazid treatment, resulting in an overall number needed to harm (NNH) of 6.7 (40/6). IGRA-non-positive patients with old TB-suggestive CXR comprised 13.4% (32/238) of all our rheumatic patients, and one of them developed pulmonary tuberculosis within one year after screening. Conclusions LTBI disease burden in rheumatic patients is substantial according to the estimation of CXR and IGRA screening. Correlation between CXR and IGRA is not significant in rheumatic patients, which implies their complementary roles. IGRA-non-positive patients with old TB-suggestive CXR comprise a significant portion in rheumatic patients and merit cautious follow-up by rheumatologists, tuberculosis specialists, and pulmonologists.
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spelling doaj.art-701ca3e7ffbf4d789582a54f6739fdbf2022-12-22T01:54:46ZengBMCBMC Pulmonary Medicine1471-24662020-08-012011710.1186/s12890-020-01274-9Chest roentgenography is complementary to interferon-gamma release assay in latent tuberculosis infection screening of rheumatic patientsPing-Huai Wang0Chou-Han Lin1Ting-Hui Chang2Chien-Sheng Wu3Division of Thoracic Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial HospitalDivision of Thoracic Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial HospitalDivision of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial HospitalDivision of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial HospitalAbstract Background A study of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) burden by chest roentgenography (CXR) with reference to interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) is still lacking in rheumatic patients of an intermediate tuberculosis burden area. Methods We retrospectively reviewed clinical data of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), or psoriatic arthritis (PsA) receiving LTBI screening for biologics from Jan 2013 to April 2014. Results A total of 238 rheumatic patients who underwent LTBI screening were included in this study, of whom 46 (19.3%) had positive IGRA tests, 178 (74.8%) had negative results, and 14 (5.9%) had indeterminate results. Radiological findings suggesting healed tuberculosis (CXR-old-TB) were found in 18.1% of all patients, 23.9% in the IGRA -positive patients vs 16.9% in the IGRA-negative patients (OR 1.55 95% CI: 0.71–3.39, p = 0.27). Forty (40/46, 87.0%) IGRA-positive patients received isoniazid prophylaxis and 77.5% of them finished treatment. Six patients developed adverse effects of isoniazid treatment, resulting in an overall number needed to harm (NNH) of 6.7 (40/6). IGRA-non-positive patients with old TB-suggestive CXR comprised 13.4% (32/238) of all our rheumatic patients, and one of them developed pulmonary tuberculosis within one year after screening. Conclusions LTBI disease burden in rheumatic patients is substantial according to the estimation of CXR and IGRA screening. Correlation between CXR and IGRA is not significant in rheumatic patients, which implies their complementary roles. IGRA-non-positive patients with old TB-suggestive CXR comprise a significant portion in rheumatic patients and merit cautious follow-up by rheumatologists, tuberculosis specialists, and pulmonologists.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12890-020-01274-9Latent tuberculosisInterferon-gamma release assayChest roentgenographyBiologics
spellingShingle Ping-Huai Wang
Chou-Han Lin
Ting-Hui Chang
Chien-Sheng Wu
Chest roentgenography is complementary to interferon-gamma release assay in latent tuberculosis infection screening of rheumatic patients
BMC Pulmonary Medicine
Latent tuberculosis
Interferon-gamma release assay
Chest roentgenography
Biologics
title Chest roentgenography is complementary to interferon-gamma release assay in latent tuberculosis infection screening of rheumatic patients
title_full Chest roentgenography is complementary to interferon-gamma release assay in latent tuberculosis infection screening of rheumatic patients
title_fullStr Chest roentgenography is complementary to interferon-gamma release assay in latent tuberculosis infection screening of rheumatic patients
title_full_unstemmed Chest roentgenography is complementary to interferon-gamma release assay in latent tuberculosis infection screening of rheumatic patients
title_short Chest roentgenography is complementary to interferon-gamma release assay in latent tuberculosis infection screening of rheumatic patients
title_sort chest roentgenography is complementary to interferon gamma release assay in latent tuberculosis infection screening of rheumatic patients
topic Latent tuberculosis
Interferon-gamma release assay
Chest roentgenography
Biologics
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12890-020-01274-9
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