RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Prevention of Tuberculosis in Patients Taking Tumor Necrosis Factor–α Blockers JF The Journal of Rheumatology JO J Rheumatol FD The Journal of Rheumatology SP 76 OP 77 DO 10.3899/jrheum.090233 VO 83 A1 BARBARA BELLOFIORE A1 ALESSANDRO MATARESE A1 NICOLA BALATO A1 FRANCESCA GAUDIELLO A1 RAFFAELE SCARPA A1 MARIANGELA ATTENO A1 MARIALUISA BOCCHINO A1 ALESSANDRO SANDUZZI YR 2009 UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/83/76.abstract AB Treatment with tumor necrosis factor–α (TNF–α) inhibitors increases the risk of tuberculosis (TB) due to reactivation of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Screening for LTBI is based mainly on the tuberculin skin test (TST), which has several limitations in any patient who is immunosuppressed due to drugs or autoimmune disease. T cell interferon–γ release assays (IGRA) have been shown to be more specific than TST in immunocompetent patients and potentially represent a new approach for the management of patients taking TNF–α blockers. Even if there is no evidence-based literature of IGRA superiority versus TST in this specific clinical setting, some studies suggest blood assays may be helpful in clinical management of these patients, in addition to currently recommended clinical screening for risk factors for LTBI.