Table 2.

Characteristics of TB patients with biologic-naïve RA.

TB Cases, n = 31
Characteristics of TB
      Duration of symptoms before TB diagnosis, weeks, mean ± SD (min-max)15 ± 9 (2–41)a
      Pulmonary TBb26 (84)
      Extrapulmonary TBb8 (26)
      Miliary TB2 (6)
Diagnosis of TB
      Smear-positive TBc7 (23)
      Bacteriologically confirmed TB by cultured20 (65)
      Clinically diagnosed TB6 (19)
      Othere5 (16)
Treatment of TBf
      Drug resistance0 (0)
      Treatment completed27 (94)
      Died of TB1 (3)

  • Values are expressed as n (%) unless stated otherwise.

  • ↵a Missing data from 5 patients.

  • ↵b Five patients with pulmonary and extrapulmonary localization.

  • ↵c All smear-positive tests were confirmed by culture.

  • ↵d Includes 7 smear-positive patients.

  • ↵e One diagnosed by positive PCR and 4 diagnosed by positive pathological-anatomical diagnosis.

  • ↵f Standard treatment in most cases 6 months with isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol (at initiation).

  • RA: rheumatoid arthritis; TB: tuberculosis.