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. 2021 Oct:230:181-187.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2021.04.024. Epub 2021 May 2.

The Association between QuantiFERON-TB Gold Test and Clinical Manifestations of Uveitis in the United States

Mehmet Yakin  1 , Natasha Kesav  1 , Shuk Kei Cheng  1 , Sonny Caplash  1 , Sapna Gangaputra  2 , H Nida Sen  3
Affiliations

The Association between QuantiFERON-TB Gold Test and Clinical Manifestations of Uveitis in the United States

Mehmet Yakin et al. Am J Ophthalmol. 2021 Oct.

Abstract

Purpose: To report the prevalence of QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT-G) positivity among uveitis patients compared to general population and to evaluate the differences in clinical features of uveitis.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: SETTING: Institutional.

Patient population: 418 consecutive new uveitis patients, regardless of clinical suspicion, were tested for QFT-G.

Observation procedures: Demographics, TB risk factors, clinical characteristics of uveitis were collected.

Main outcome measures: The frequency of QFT-G positivity among uveitis patients and characteristic clinical features among QFT-G positive patients.

Results: QFT-G positivity was found in 60/418 patients with uveitis (14.4%, 95% CI: 11.18 - 18.14) higher than the general US population (5%, 95% CI: 4.2 - 5.8, p<.001). Age, gender and residence were similar between QFT-G positive and negative groups. Uveitis patients with positive QFT-G were more likely to be foreign born or have a recent travel history (OR:5.84; 95% CI: 2.83 - 12.05; p<.001). QFT-G positive patients were more likely to present with granulomatous uveitis (OR 2.90; 95%CI 1.36 - 6.21; p=.006). No significant association was found with specific clinical features such as choroiditis, retinal vasculitis, occlusive vasculitis, and serpiginoid choroiditis (p>.05 for each). Prevalence of TB-uveitis based on treatment response was 1.19%.

Conclusions: Our study demonstrates significantly higher prevalence of QFT-G positivity among uveitis patients compared to average US population. Characteristic signs of TB uveitis reported in endemic countries were not seen in this cohort. Implications of higher prevalence of QFT-G positivity among uveitis patients require further investigation.

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