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Active and latent tuberculosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus living in the United States
Journal of Clinical Rheumatology (JCR), 08/06/09

Chu AD et al. – Study reports that a significant number of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a county clinic population in the US had latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) or tuberculosis (TB). Treatment of active TB and latent TB yielded good outcomes with no deaths; US clinicians should consider screening SLE patients for LTBI, especially those from TB endemic areas.

Methods

Aim was to document the demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics and outcomes of pts with SLE and LTBI or active TB in an ethnically diverse clinic
A retrospective review of clinical records of pts with SLE in clinic, with a large immigrant population
Clinical characteristics were analyzed according to the pts' ethnicity, tuberculin skin test (TST) results, and history of treatment for latent or active TB

Results

Data regarding a history of active TB or TST status were available for 85% pts
Prevalence of TB infection was highest in pts from TB endemic areas
7% had active TB and 18% had LTBI
Among the 6 pts who developed active TB after the onset of SLE, 2 had pulmonary, 1 had extrapulmonary, and 3 had disseminated TB
Laboratory features and treatment regimens for SLE were similar in pts with a history of TB infection and in pts with a negative TST

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