Latent tuberculosis infection screening in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients preceding anti-TNF therapy in a tuberculosis high-risk country

Abstract Objectives: To evaluate, in an endemic country, the long-term efficacy of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening and primary prophylaxis in patients with JIA receiving TNF blockers. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort that included JIA patients eligible to anti-TNF therapy. Patients were screened for LTBI prior to anti-TNF using tuberculin skin test (TST), chest X-ray and history of exposure to TB. Subjects were regularly followed at 2-month intervals. Results: Sixty-nine JIA patients with current age of 17.4 ± 5.8 years, mean disease duration of 5.0 ± 4.9 years were included. Forty-seven patients received a single anti-TNF, while 22 patients switched to another anti-TNF once or twice: 57 were treated with etanercepte, 33 patients with adalimumab and 3 infliximab. LTBI screening was positive in three patients: one had TST-positive and history of TB exposure and two had solely TST-positive. No active TB was diagnosed during the study period (median of follow-up was 3.8 years). Conclusion: Long-term evaluation revealed that LTBI screening and primary prophylaxis before anti-TNF treatment was effective in a high-risk country and TST was the most sensitive parameter to identify these patients.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Brunelli,Juliana Barbosa, Bonfiglioli,Karina Rossi, Silva,Clovis A., Kozu,Katia Tomie, Goldenstein-Schainberg,Claudia, Bonfa,Eloisa, Aikawa,Nadia Emi
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Sociedade Brasileira de Reumatologia 2017
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0482-50042017000500392
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