Annals of the rheumatic diseases
-
Comparative Study
Comparison of in vitro-specific blood tests with tuberculin skin test for diagnosis of latent tuberculosis before anti-TNF therapy.
Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is detected with the tuberculin skin test (TST) before anti-TNF therapy. We aimed to investigate in vitro blood assays with TB-specific antigens (CFP-10, ESAT-6), in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID) for LTBI screening. ⋯ Anti-TB blood assays are beneficial for LTBI diagnosis in IMID. Compared with TST, they show a better sensitivity, as seen by positive results in 5 patients with certain LTBI and negative TST, and better specificity, as seen by negative results in most patients with intermediate TST as the only criteria of LTBI. In the absence of clinico-radiographic findings for LTBI, blood assays could replace TST for antibiotherapy decision before anti-TNF.
-
To develop and assess the reliability and construct validity of a scale assessing disability involving the mouth in systemic sclerosis (SSc). ⋯ We propose a new scale, the Mouth Handicap in Systemic Sclerosis (MHISS) scale, which has excellent reliability and good construct validity, and assesses specifically disability involving the mouth in patients with SSc.