Arenas Miras, Maria Del MarHidalgo-Tenorio, CarmenJimenez-Gamiz, PilarJiménez-Alonso, Juan2015-06-032015-06-032014-05-28Arenas Miras Mdel M, Hidalgo-Tenorio C, Jimenez-Gamiz P, Jiménez-Alonso J. Diagnosis of latent tuberculosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: T.SPOT.TB versus tuberculin skin test. Biomed Res Int; 2014:291031http://hdl.handle.net/10668/1899Clinical Trial; Comparative Study; Journal Article; Observational Study;Early studies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) reported increased incidence of tuberculosis. The tuberculin skin test (TST) is the technique of choice to detect latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) but has several limitations. OBJECTIVES We compared TST and the newer T.SPOT.TB test to diagnose LTBI in SLE patients. METHODS In this observational cohort study conducted between August 2009 and February 2012, we recruited 92 patients from those attending the SLE clinic of our university hospital. Data recorded were epidemiological and sociodemographic characteristics. Laboratory analyses included TST and T.SPOT.TB tests. RESULTS Of the patients studied, 92% were women with an average age of 42.7 years. Overall, the degree of correlation between the two tests was low (Kappa index = 0.324) but was better in patients not receiving corticosteroids (CTC)/immunosuppressive (IS) therapy (Kappa = 0.436) and in those receiving hydroxychloroquine (Kappa = 0.473). While TST results were adversely affected by those receiving CTC and/or IS drugs (P = 0.021), the T.SPOT.TB results were not. CONCLUSION Although the TST test remains a useful tool for diagnosing LTBI in SLE patients, the T.SPOT.TB test is perhaps better employed when the patient is receiving CTC and/or IS drugs.enEstudios TransversalesFemeninoHumanosTuberculosis LatenteMasculinoMediana EdadEstudios RetrospectivosPrueba de TuberculinaAdultoLupus eritematoso sistémicoMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Epidemiologic Methods::Epidemiologic Study Characteristics as Topic::Epidemiologic Studies::Cross-Sectional StudiesMedical Subject Headings::Check Tags::FemaleMedical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Primates::Haplorhini::Catarrhini::Hominidae::HumansMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Bacterial Infections and Mycoses::Bacterial Infections::Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections::Actinomycetales Infections::Mycobacterium Infections::Tuberculosis::Latent TuberculosisMedical Subject Headings::Check Tags::MaleMedical Subject Headings::Named Groups::Persons::Age Groups::Adult::Middle AgedMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Epidemiologic Methods::Epidemiologic Study Characteristics as Topic::Epidemiologic Studies::Case-Control Studies::Retrospective StudiesMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Diagnosis::Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures::Clinical Laboratory Techniques::Immunologic Tests::Skin Tests::Tuberculin TestMedical Subject Headings::Named Groups::Persons::Age Groups::AdultMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Immune System Diseases::Autoimmune Diseases::Lupus Erythematosus, Systemicresearch article25009813open access10.1155/2014/2910312314-6141PMC4058455