Prevalence of Positive QuantiFERON-TB Test among Sarcoid Uveitis Patients and its Clinical Implications in a Country Non-endemic for Tuberculosis

ABSTRACT

Aim

To report on the prevalence and clinical implications of positive QuantiFERON-TB (QFT) test results in the diagnostic evaluation of a cohort of consecutive sarcoid uveitis patients in France.

Design

Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Methods

This study included consecutive sarcoid uveitis patients who all underwent QFT testing.

Results

A total of 234 patients were included in the study, among them 28 (12%) were QFT-positive. Previously treated tuberculosis (TB) was documented in 2 patients. QFT-positive patients were older (59 ± 16 years vs. 51 ± 18 years, p = .025) and more in proportion to suffer from chronic uveitis and panuveitis compared to QFT-negative patients. Moderate and severe visual impairment were significantly more frequent in the QFT-positive group (35.7% vs. 18.9%, p = .049 and 25.0% vs. 9.2%, p = .022, respectively).

Conclusion

The significant proportion of QFT-positive patients (12%) in this large series of sarcoid uveitis patients makes us suggest not to exclude the diagnosis of sarcoidosis in case of positive QFT in a low-endemic country for tuberculosis, and to manage these patients early by initiating without delay systemic steroids associated with latent tuberculosis therapy.

KEYWORDS:

• IGRA
• QuantiFERON
• sarcoidosis
• tuberculosis
• uveitis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.