Infecção latente por tuberculose em pacientes com psoríase em uso de imunobiológicos: um estudo observacional

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate, using the tuberculin skin test (PT), the prevalence rate of latent tuberculosis infection (ILTB) in patients using immunosuppressive therapy with immunobiologicals to treat psoriasis. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 85 patients with psoriasis, using immunobiological therapy, followed at the Hospital Regional de Presidente Prudente, SP, who had undergone PT during the treatment. A second PT was performed after the use of immunobiological therapy and the results were compared. A positive result was considered to be an induration diameter greater than or equal to 5 mm for a previous test with a zero value, or an increase of 10 mm or more in the previous PT value. The data found were analyzed statistically, correlating with demographic data, immunobiological agent in use and its duration of use and previous use of tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (anti-TNF) and methotrexate, in order to assess the existence of a relationship between the variables. RESULTS: Of the 85 participants, 74 had a negative first PT. In total, only 11.8% of cases had tuberculin conversion and 77.6% of these were using anti-interleukins (anti-IL). Analyzing the characteristics that were being evaluated together, there was no statistical significance in any of them. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that there was positivity for ILTB in a significant portion of the patients, the majority of whom were using anti-IL. No patient developed active TB, which may demonstrate the possible safety of the medication