568
Views
23
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Review Article

Three Years of Experience with QuantiFERON-TB Gold Testing in Patients with Uveitis

, , , , , & show all
Pages 478-484 | Received 26 May 2013, Accepted 12 Nov 2013, Published online: 10 Jan 2014
 

Abstract

Purpose: Overview of the results of QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT) testing on uveitis patients in an interdisciplinary setting for a period of 3 years.

Methods: Database search of all the patients tested for tuberculosis (Tb) with QFT.

Results: Of 343 tested patients, overall 80 (23.3%) were positive and 253 (73.8%) negative (results were nonconclusive for 10 patients). Anatomic localization of the patients who tested positive were distributed (% of QFT+ tests) as anterior n = 12 (15.0%), intermediate n = 22 (27.5%), posterior n = 26 (32.5%), and pan n = 18 (22.5%). In 43 QFT+ patients we presumed a diagnosis of Tb due to additional clinical findings. Of these patients 16 were treated with full therapy following WHO recommendations.

Conclusions: QFT testing gives surprisingly high numbers of positives in uveitis patients. This is not sufficiently explained by immigrant status of the patients. The frequency of positives is substantially higher than in other cohorts. This raises important questions regarding treatment implications.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.