May 2008
Volume 49, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2008
Initial Results of QuantiFERON-TB Gold Testing in Patients With Uveitis
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • S. Itty
    Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
    Mayo Medical School,
  • S. J. Bakri
    Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
    Ophthalmology,
  • J. S. Pulido
    Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
    Ophthalmology,
  • D. C. Herman
    Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
    Ophthalmology,
  • L. J. Faia
    National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rochester, Minnesota
  • G. T. Tufty
    Ophthalmology Ltd. Eye Institute, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
  • S. R. Bennet
    Vitreoretinal Surgery PA, Edina, Minnesota
  • N. S. Falk
    Retina Consultants PLLC, Albany, New York
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  S. Itty, None; S.J. Bakri, None; J.S. Pulido, None; D.C. Herman, None; L.J. Faia, None; G.T. Tufty, None; S.R. Bennet, None; N.S. Falk, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc., New York, New York and the Mayo Foundation
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2008, Vol.49, 3890. doi:
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      S. Itty, S. J. Bakri, J. S. Pulido, D. C. Herman, L. J. Faia, G. T. Tufty, S. R. Bennet, N. S. Falk; Initial Results of QuantiFERON-TB Gold Testing in Patients With Uveitis. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2008;49(13):3890.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose: : Tuberculosis infection is important to detect in patients with ophthalmologic disease because it is a treatable form of uveitis. The QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT-G) test is a blood test which uses enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect interferon gamma released by T-cells with prior exposure to M. tuberculosis. It appears to be more sensitive for the detection of tuberculosis even in the presence of prior Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination. We describe the use in a series of patients in an ophthalmic practice.

Methods: : The charts of all patients who had QFT-G tests ordered by Mayo Clinic ophthalmologists in the past three years were reviewed.

Results: : Twenty seven QFT-G tests were ordered. Fourteen (52%) tests were negative, six (22%) were indeterminate, and two (7%) tests were re-ordered after a lab accident or an improper cancellation, and five (19%) were positive. Of the six positive cases, three were treated for tuberculosis: one had tubeculous iritis, one had retinal vasculitis and haemorrhage and one had asymptomatic tuberculosis but was on immunosuppressive therapy.

Conclusions: : In a series of selected patients with uveitis, the QFT-G test was able to detect tuberculosis infection in 22% of the patients. QFT-G should be considered instead of PPD testing in cases of uveitis or at least in those with uveitis that have had prior BCG vaccination.

Keywords: uveitis-clinical/animal model • clinical laboratory testing • inflammation 
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