Usefulness of the QuantiFERON^®test in the confirmation of latent tuberculosis in association with erythema induratum

Abstract

5 Barzilai A, Trau H, David M et al. Mycosis fungoides associated with B-cell malignancies. Br J Dermatol 2006; 155:379-86. 6 Hallermann C, Kjell MK, Tiemann M et al. High frequency of primary cutaneous lymphomas associated with lymphoproliferative disorders of different lineage. Ann Hematol 2007; 86:509-15. 7 van den Berg A, Maggio E, Rust R et al. Clonal relation in a case of CLL, ALCL, and Hodgkin's composite lymphoma. Blood 2002; 100:1425-9. 8 Assaf C, Hummel M, Dippel E et al. Common clonal T-cell origin in a patient with T-prolymphocytic leukaemia and associated cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. Br J Haematol 2003; 120:488-91. 9 Kang SK, Chang SE, Choi JH et al. Coexistence of CD30-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma and mycosis fungoides. Clin Exp Dermatol 2002; 27:212-15. 10 Lee MW, Chi DH, Choi JH et al. A case of mycosis fungoides after CD30 positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

Erythema induratum and chronic hepatitis C infection

“…Despite its good specificity, 15 the tests still need further study in high-risk areas such as Portugal. Anti-tuberculosis treatment with streptomycin, ofloxacin and ethambutol was used in our patient for 3 months based on the QuantiFERON test.…”

Application of the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold test in Erythema Induratum

“…These proteins are produced from genes that exist within a locus called the "region of difference 1 (RD1)" of the genome of M. tuberculosis. This locus is known to be a specific gene that does not exist in BCG or nontuberculous mycobacterium (12,13). Therefore, only a T cell that has been sensitized to M. tuberculosis is responsive.…”

“…Therefore, it is more effective for detecting latent TB and more helpful in guiding treatment. In addition, because the test is less influenced by previous BCG inoculation, it is useful for diagnosing TB in patients in South Korea, where preschool or school-age children are given BCG inoculation due to the high prevalence of TB (13,17).…”

“…Still, when compared to the tuberculin test, the QuantiFERON Ò -TB Gold test has been less prospectively studied, and a positive QuantiFERON Ò -TB Gold test does not necessarily point to latent TB. The prevailing opinion is that the QuantiFERON Ò -TB Gold test will eventually replace the tuberculin test for the diagnosis of latent TB, and in some studies, QuantiFERON Ò -TB Gold test positivity was interpreted as pointing to latent TB (13).…”

Changing the way we diagnose tuberculids with interferon gamma release assays

“…5,7 The utility of IGRA in diagnosing tuberculids has been reported. [8][9][10][11] In some of these cases, either TST or PCR was negative. This is similar to our experience where PCR was negative in all three patients.…”