A practical approach to tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment in liver transplant recipients in a low-prevalence area

Abstract

Solid organ transplant candidates/recipients are at risk of mycobacterial infections. Although guidelines on the management of latent tuberculosis infection and active tuberculosis are available for solid organ transplant recipients, limited guidance focuses on end-stage liver disease or liver transplant recipients who require management in a referral center. Therapeutic challenges arise from direct antituberculosis drug-related hepatotoxicity, and substantial metabolic interactions between immunosuppressive and antituberculosis drugs. Another issue is the optimal timing of therapy with regards to the time of transplantation. This review focuses on the importance of tuberculosis screening with immunological tests, challenges in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection and active tuberculosis, as well as risk assessment for active tuberculosis in the critical peri-liver transplantation period. We detail therapeutic adjustments required for the management of antituberculosis drugs in latent tuberculosis infection and active tuberculosis, particularly when concomitantly using rifampicin and immunosuppressive drugs.