Usefulness of QuantiFERON®-TB Gold test in psoriatic patients under treatment with tumour necrosis factor blockers. (February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Saraceno, Rosita; Specchio, Francesca; Chiricozzi, Andrea; Sarmati, Loredana; Amicosante, Massimo; Chimenti, Maria Sole; Chimenti, Sergio
• Is Part Of: Expert opinion on biological therapy. Volume 14:Number 2(2014:Feb.)
• Page Start: 151
• Page End: 156
• Publication Date: 2014-02
• Subjects: Gene therapy -- Periodicals; Protein drugs -- Periodicals; Peptide drugs -- Periodicals; Immunotherapy -- Periodicals; Drug delivery systems -- Periodicals; 615.5
• DOI: 10.1517/14712598.2014.860441
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-2598

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p> <bold> <italic>Objective:</italic> </bold> Infliximab is a human/mouse chimeric anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α antibody that is effective in the management of psoriasis. Anti-TNF treatments may reactivate latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI); therefore, screening for LTBI is mandatory before starting any anti-TNF-α therapy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold (QFT-G) test in psoriatic patients under treatment with infliximab.</p> <p> <bold> <italic>Research design and methods:</italic> </bold> A retrospective study had been performed on patients affected by psoriasis who had been treated with infliximab from 2003 to 2012 at a single centre.</p> <p> <bold> <italic>Main outcomes measures:</italic> </bold> QFT-G was tested by a standard TB enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, based on detection of interferon-γ release from sensitized leucocytes exposed to the synthetic <italic>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</italic> antigens at baseline and every 6 months until the end of treatment.</p> <p> <bold> <italic>Results:</italic> </bold> A total of 140 patients were included. At baseline, 7 QFT-G tests were positive and 133 tests were negative. Of the 133 patients, 11 (8%) who were negative at baseline became QFT-G test positive during treatment. Of those 11 patients, 5 had a reversion during treatment. Of the 133 patients, 122 (92%) who were negative at baseline remained negative.</p> <p> <bold> <italic>Conclusions:</italic> </bold> It was found that the development of positive QFT-G tests, observed in 8% treated with infliximab, was not associated with pulmonary or extra-pulmonary tuberculosis.</p> </abstract>