High prevalence of latent tuberculosis using the QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus test in Takayasu arteritis
Ana Luisa Souza Pedreira1,2
, Rodrigo Pinheiro Leal Costa1, Josenor Filipe Pitanga Silva1, Mittermayer Barreto Santiago1,2
1Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador, Brazil
2Serviços Especializados Em Reumatologia Da Bahia, Rheumatology, Salvador, Brazil
Keywords: Interferon gamma release test, latent tuberculosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Takayasu arteritis, tuberculosis
Abstract
Objectives: This study aims to investigate latent tuberculosis using the QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus method in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA).
Patients and methods: This case-control study included 22 patients with TA (3 males, 19 females; median age: 36.5 years; IQR, 32 to 50 years), 22 healthy individuals (3 males, 19 females; median age: 38.5 years; IQR, 32.5 to 50 years), and 66 patients with diffuse connective tissue diseases (DCTDs) (4 males, 62 females; median age: 41 years; IQR, 29.8 to 54 years). Two control groups were formed: (i) age- and sex-matched healthy individuals and (ii) patients with other DCTDs. Epidemiological data were collected, and the QFT-Plus test was performed. The QFT-plus positivity was compared among the groups.
Results: A higher prevalence of QFT-Plus positive cases was observed in the TA group (8/22) than in the healthy control group (1/22) (p=0.020) or in the group with other DCTDs (3/66) (p=0.001). There was a statistically significant difference in the past pulmonary tuberculosis prevalence between the TA and DCTD groups (p=0.013).
Conclusion: The prevalence of latent tuberculosis in TA patients (36.4%) was higher than that in both control groups and higher than the prevalence of latent tuberculosis among the general Brazilian population. Although a positive association was found, it is not possible to establish a direct cause-effect relationship. Given the increasing use of anti-cytokine therapies in TA, it is necessary to thoroughly screen patients with TA before initiating immunosuppressive therapy to avoid tuberculosis reactivation.
Citation: Souza Pedreira AL, Leal Costa RP, Pitanga Silva JF, Santiago MB. High prevalence of latent tuberculosis using the QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus test in Takayasu arteritis. Arch Rheumatol 2022;37(3):344-350.
The study protocol was approved by the Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador, Brazil Ethics Committee (CAEE: 73383717.3.0000.544). The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.
A written informed consent was obtained from each patient.
Data Sharing Statement:
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Conception, analysis, writing: A.L.S.P., M.B.S.; Corrected the data analysis, drafting: R.P.L.C., J.F.P.S.
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.
The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.