RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Screening for Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Patients with Chronic Inflammatory Arthritis: Discrepancies Between Tuberculin Skin Test and Interferon-γ Release Assay Results JF The Journal of Rheumatology JO J Rheumatol FD The Journal of Rheumatology SP 1986 OP 1993 DO 10.3899/jrheum.130303 VO 40 IS 12 A1 Félicie Costantino A1 Marcelo de Carvalho Bittencourt A1 Anne-Christine Rat A1 Damien Loeuille A1 Hervé Dintinger A1 Marie C. Béné A1 Gilbert Faure A1 Isabelle Chary-Valckenaere YR 2013 UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/40/12/1986.abstract AB Objective. Screening for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is mandatory before initiating biologics in patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis (CIA). However, few studies have evaluated the discrepancies between the results of tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon-γ release assays (IGRA) in these patients. The purpose of our study was to investigate factors associated with TST and IGRA results in a large cohort of patients with CIA before the introduction of biologics. Methods. A total of 563 consecutive patients with CIA (293 rheumatoid arthritis, 270 spondyloarthritis) and eligible for biologics were prospectively enrolled. Demographic, clinical, and biological data were recorded. Risk factors for LTBI were assessed. All patients underwent a TST, a chest radiograph, and an IGRA test (T-SPOT.TB). Results. Agreement between the 2 tests was low (κ = 0.16). The bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) status was significantly associated with discordance between the 2 tests (p = 0.004). The TST positivity rate was 34.8%. Factors associated with a negative TST were female sex (p = 0.02) and immunosuppressive treatment (p = 0.003). The only LTBI risk factor associated with TST positivity was an abnormal chest radiograph (p = 0.02). T-SPOT.TB was positive in 21.7% of patients and indeterminate in 15.6%. Previous active TB and chest radiograph abnormalities were associated with IGRA positivity (p = 0.008 and p = 3.9 × 10−5, respectively). The BCG vaccination was associated with negative IGRA (p = 3 × 10−4). Indeterminate IGRA results were associated with age, C-reactive protein, and immunosuppressive treatment (p = 0.005, 0.007, and 0.004, respectively). Conclusion. Our data support the combined use of T-SPOT.TB and TST in patients with CIA before biologics introduction. However, despite these good diagnostic values, indeterminate results may complicate the use of IGRA.