Abstract
The reactivation of latent tuberculosis infection is a major problem of anti-TNF-alpha treatment. Although the use of a tuberculin skin test is controversial because of the high rate of false-negative results in immunosuppressed patients, screening for tuberculosis infection is highly recommended before anti-TNF-alpha therapy is conducted. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical utility of the QuantiFeron TB-2G (QFT-2G) test for patients with rheumatoid arthritis before the treatment. Fifty RA patients received both tuberculin skin tests and QFT-2G blood tests. None of the50patients were suspected of having tuberculosis. Nine patients showed a reaction of more than10mm x10mm erythema in tuberculin skin tests, but these patients’ QFT-2G tests were negative. Indeterminate results were detected in QFT-2G test for 3 cases.These cases showed negative results in QFT-2G test one year later. In conclusion, it was suggested that QFT-2G test might be useful if it would be positive for the screening in RA patients for anti-TNF therapy. Both tuberculin skin test and QFT-2G test are necessary for the screening of tuberculosis infection for the time being.
