Flow Cytometric Immune Profiling in Infliximab-Associated Tuberculosis. Issue 10 (7th August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pennington, Kelly; Sasieta, Humberto C; Ramos, Guiherme P; Erskine, Courtney L; Van Keulen, Virginia P; Peikert, Tobias; Escalante, Patricio
• Is Part Of: Clinical medicine insights. Issue 10(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-08-07
• Subjects: Tumor necrosis factor alpha antagonists -- active tuberculosis -- inflammatory bowel disease -- flow cytometry; Clinical medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; Medicine; Clinical medicine; Electronic journals; Case Reports; Periodicals; Case Reports; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; Case studies; Periodicals; 616.09
• DOI: 10.1177/1179547617724776
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1179-5476

Abstract

Tumor necrosis factor α antagonists are increasingly used to treat inflammatory and autoimmune disorders and are associated with increased risk of active tuberculosis. Diagnosis of active tuberculosis in patients taking tumor necrosis factor α antagonists can be challenging owing to increased incidence of extrapulmonary manifestations and false-negative results on current available diagnostic tests. We present a case of a young woman on infliximab for ulcerative colitis who presented with disseminated tuberculosis. As part of a research study, we performed flow cytometric immune profiling, which has previously not been reported in patients with active tuberculosis taking tumor necrosis α antagonists. The flow cytometry results were within the positive thresholds for tuberculosis infection. Flow cytometric immune profiling may be a valid diagnostic tool for patients taking tumor necrosis factor α antagonists.