Risk of tuberculosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Hong Kong – the role of TNF blockers in an area of high tuberculosis burden

Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology

Edmund K. Li¹  Lai-Shan Tam¹  Ying-Ying Leung¹  Chi-Chiu Leung¹  Cheuk-Wan Yim¹  Emily W Kun¹  Gavin K Lee¹  Kwok-Keung Wong¹  Shirley K Ying¹ 

关键词: Rheumatoid arthritis;    TNF blockers;    risk factors;    tuberculosis;   

DOI  :  

学科分类：医学（综合）

来源: Pacini Editore SpA

【 摘 要 】

OBJECTIVES: To elucidate the incidence rate and relative risk of tuberculosis (TB) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared to the general population in Hong Kong between 2004 and 2008, and to assess whether this risk is associated with exposure to tumour necrosis factor (TNF) blockers after adjusting for other known risk factors. METHODS: We reviewed all the medical records of RA patients to determine the standardised incidence ratio (SIR) of TB in RA patients. Independent explanatory variables associated with active TB in RA were ascertained using the Cox regression model. RESULTS: A total of 2441 RA patients followed at the 5 centres were recruited. The mean age at the start of follow up was 56±14 years. The median follow-up duration was 6,616 and 185 patient-years for the TNF naive and TNF treated groups, respectively. Compared to age- and sex-matched population controls, the SIR of active TB in RA was significantly increased (SIR for TNF naïve RA: 2.35, 95% CI 1.17–4.67, p=0.013, SIR for TNF treated RA: 34.92, 95% CI 8.89–137.20, p

【 授权许可】

Unknown