Abstract
To investigate the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) among patients who were prescribed Tumor necrosis factor-alpha antagonist (anti- TNF-α) under isoniazid (INH) prophylaxis. Between February 2008 and January 2015, 110 patients (23 to 77 age) who were prescribed anti-TNF-α in rheumatologic and dermatologic diseases were included. According to guideline, INH prophylaxis was started. In all patients, physical examination, chest X-ray and tuberculin skin test (TST) was performed. The mean age was 45.1±12,1 and 52.7% (n = 58) were male. The most common diagnosis was rheumatoid arthritis (42.7%) and ankylosing spondylitis (38.2%); Infliximab 37.3% and etanercept 30.9% was given most frequently. 1.8% of the patients had family history of TB. A statistically significant increase was observed in TST follow-up. Initially, patients with negative TST ( During anti-TNF-α treatment, patients should be closely followed up. In immunosuppressive patients, considering the BCG and TST reliability, we think that routine INH prophylaxis should be started.
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