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Home / The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 16, Number 4

Development of tuberculosis in immunocompromised patients with a positive tuberculosis-specific IGRA [Short communication]

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There is a lack of data on the predictive value of tuberculosis (TB) specific interferon-gamma release assays (TIGRAs) for both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. We retrospectively followed up 460 such patients after QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) testing (mean follow-up 28 months) by reviewing patient charts. A total of 1/38 QFT-GIT-positive and no QFT-GIT-negative patients developed active TB. The incidence rate of progression to active TB assessed retrospectively in these patients after positive TIGRA was therefore low (1.2 events/100 person-years). The need for careful follow-up and prophylactic therapy after positive TIGRA in this patient group needs to be evaluated prospectively.

Keywords: interferon-gamma release assay; risk of progression; tuberculosis

Document Type: Research Article

Affiliations: 1: Center for Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine, Freiburg, Germany; IFB–Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany 2: Center for Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany 3: Center for Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine, and IFB–Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany

Publication date: 01 April 2012

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  • The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IJTLD) is for clinical research and epidemiological studies on lung health, including articles on TB, TB-HIV and respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, asthma, COPD, child lung health and the hazards of tobacco and air pollution. Individuals and institutes can subscribe to the IJTLD online or in print – simply email us at [email protected] for details.

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