High rates of tuberculin skin test positivity due to methotrexate therapy: False positive results?
Introduction
Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is the most prevalent form of tuberculosis worldwide [1]. Screening for LTBI is recommended before the initiation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist therapy 2., 3., which is associated with an increased risk of tuberculosis reactivation in LTBI 4., 5., 6., 7.. Treatment for LTBI greatly reduces the risk of developing active disease, but potential side effects can occur, including hepatotoxicity [8]. A substantial reduction in the rate of tuberculosis reactivation in patients receiving anti-TNF therapy has been observed after LTBI screening and prevention interventions were implemented [9].
LTBI triggers an immune response to the tuberculin skin test (TST) and/or interferon (IFN) ? release assays (IGRAs) [10]. The TST detects the recall response to the purified protein derivative of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Following this intradermal challenge in a previously exposed individual, antigen-specific T cells are activated to secrete IFN-?, which activates macrophages to produce TNF and interleukin 1. IFN-? is also produced by natural killer cells, as part of the innate immune response, and it is essential for the activation of phagocytes and antigen presentation cells besides promoting cell proliferation, adhesion, and apoptosis [11]. However, immunosuppressive drugs can alter these immune responses and decrease the sensitivity of both TST and IGRAs in treated patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases [12].
Biologic agents have dramatically changed prognosis in rheumatic diseases. Therefore their use has increased greatly. However, these drugs are not free of side effects, and tuberculosis reactivation is a major concern. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), a group of medications commonly used in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other inflammatory disorders, suppress overactive immune and/or inflammatory pathways. The most commonly used DMARDs are methotrexate, sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine and leflunomide [13]. Methotrexate is an immunomodulator that has been associated with a two-fold higher incidence of LTBI after 12 months of treatment [14]. Although the mechanism of action underlying this drug\x92s anti-inflammatory effect has not been completely characterized, its effectiveness in halting disease progression has made it a first-line treatment in RA and other inflammatory conditions 15., 16.. However, DMARDs, including methotrexate, can also modify T-cell function and potentially affect LTBI diagnostics [17].
Unexpectedly high rates of TST positivity have been reported in patients with RA, which was also reported in a meta-analysis 18., 19.. We therefore hypothesized that the observed increase in TST positivity in patients receiving DMARDs is related to false-positives associated with methotrexate use. Our study aimed to prospectively test this hypothesis and explore other factors that might be associated with false-positive TST results in patients with rheumatic diseases. We also used flow cytometry to analyze whether nonspecific T-cell subset activation could explain false-positive TST or IGRA testing results.
Section snippets
Subjects
The study was approved by the research ethics committee of Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias. All patients signed an informed written consent prior to study participation. Between April 2013 and March 2016, we prospectively enrolled patients with rheumatic diseases referred by rheumatologists for LTBI screening prior to initiation of biologic therapy. Additional information about the study subjects, clinical data gathering, and setting are provided in the online Data supplement.
LTBI evaluations and screening procedures
LTBI
Results
The prospectively enrolled cohort of 393 patients included 90 patients with ASP, 120 with RA, 126 with PA, and 57 with other rheumatic or inflammatory disorders (i.e., undifferentiated spondyloarthropathies, axial spondyloarthropathy, and SAPHO [synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis] syndrome). Patient characteristics and LTBI testing (i.e., TST, QTF-GIT, and TSPOT) results were compared across the study groups (Table 1). As expected for this area of Spain, most patients had a
Discussion
To our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate an association between methotrexate use and a high likelihood of false-positive TST results in patients with rheumatic diseases, in particular in the PA subgroup. Our findings are important because the TST is frequently used to screen for LTBI in an increasing number of patients who are candidates for biologic therapy, and methotrexate is very commonly prescribed for RA and PA patients before a biologic drug is considered. A substantial
Conclusions
LTBI screening remains strongly recommended for patients who are candidates for biologic treatment, but the TST is associated with a high rate of probably false-positive results in patients receiving methotrexate, regardless of BCG vaccination status. IGRA test results do not seem to be affected by methotrexate treatment in these patients. Furthermore, peripheral blood T cells in methotrexate-treated patients produce more IFN-? after nonspecific stimulation but it is unclear if this T-cell
Author contributions
Miguel Arias-Guillén was involved in the study\x92s conception and design, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data, and drafting of the manuscript. He was also a supervisor for the study.
Marta M. Sánchez Menéndez was involved in the study\x92s conception and design, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data, and drafting of the manuscript.
Mercedes Alperi was involved in the study\x92s conception and design, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of
Significance of this study
Scientific Knowledge on the Subject.
Screening for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) has become mandatory before the initiation of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy. Treatment for LTBI greatly reduces the risk of active disease, but potential side effects such as hepatoxicity can occur. Methotrexate is an immunomodulatory agent that has been associated with a two-fold higher incidence of LTBI.
What This Study Adds to the Field
We found an unexpectedly high rate of positive tuberculin
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Dr. José María García García (Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica-SEPAR) and Prof. Dr. med. J\xFCrgen Behr (Direktor der Medizinischen Klinik und Poliklinik V. Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit\xE4t M\xFCnchen. CA und \xC4D Asklepios Fachkliniken M\xFCnchen Gauting. Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich (CPC-M). Mitglied des Deutschen Zentrums f\xFCr Lungenforschung (DZL)) for their critical reading of this manuscript
Portions of the
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