Abstract

GALVIS, Leandro; SANCHEZ, Ángel Y.; JURADO, Leonardo F.  and  MURCIA, Martha I.. Tuberculosis associated with tumor necrosis factor-α antagonists, case description and analysis of reported cases in Colombia. Biomédica [online]. 2018, vol.38, n.1, pp.7-16. ISSN 0120-4157.  https://doi.org/10.7705/biomedica.v38i0.3273.

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is an important fundamental cytokine during the immune response against cancer and infections such as tuberculosis. This molecule also plays a key pathogenic role in complex and difficult-to-treat diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis and ulcerative colitis. The treatment of these diseases frequently needs TNF-αantagonists, which has been related to an increased risk of developing tuberculosis, mycoses, and other severe infections.

We report the case of a 68-year-old man with Crohn’s disease, who developed disseminated tuberculosis due to anti-TNF-α immunosuppressive therapy. The diagnosis was based on the histopathological findings and molecular biology assays.

We discuss the clinical presentation and workup of this case, and we present a comparative analysis of tuberculosis cases associated with anti-TNF-α reported in Colombia during the last 10 years emphasizing on the diagnosis and treatment of latent tuberculosis.

Keywords : Mycobacterium tuberculosis; tuberculosis; latent tuberculosis; Cronh’s disease; diagnosis; risk factor; tumor necrosis factor-alpha; Colombia.

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