Case ReportOpen Access

Development of Tuberculosis in Child During Treatment with Tumour Necrosis Factor-Alpha Inhibitor Agent: Could This Have Been Prevented?

Volume 7 - Issue 1

**Iveta Ozere*¹, Ruta Šantere² and Anita Skangale³**

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- ¹Riga Stradiņš University, Latvia
- ²Children’s Clinical University Hospital, Latvia
- ³Riga East Clinical University Hospital, Centre for Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Latvia
*Corresponding author: Iveta Ozere, Riga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia

Received: June 15, 2018; Published: July 20, 2018

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.07.001452

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Abstract

Patients treated with anti-TNF-α agents are at increased risk of reactivating latent tuberculosis infection. Screening for tuberculosis infection and disease, and appropriate treatment before commencing of anti-TNF therapy is therefore important. However, currently recommended screening tools (tuberculin skin test, interferon-gamma releasing assays, and chest radiograph) may not detect tuberculosis infection in all children. This may result in development of active tuberculosis during TNF-α inhibitor therapy.

Keywords: Anti-TNF-α agents; Tuberculosis; Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis; Children

Abbreviations: TNF-α: Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha; TB: Tuberculosis; Mbt: Mycobacterium Tuberculosis; JIA: Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis; LTBI: Latent Tuberculosis Infection; TST: Tuberculin Skin Test; IGRAs: Interferon-Gamma Releasing Assays; CXR: Chest Radiograph; CT: Computed Tomography