
To study the use of interferon-gamma release assay (IFN-γ) (IGRAs) as a diagnostic test for tuberculosis (TB)-associated uveitis (TAU).Prospective cohort study.Consecutive new patients (n=162) with clinical ocular signs suggestive of TAU, seen >1 year period at a single tertiary center.All subjects underwent investigations to rule out underlying disease, including T-SPOT.TB and tuberculin skin test (TST). Twenty-one subjects with underlying disease and three with interdeterminate T-SPOT.TB results were excluded. Those with T-SPOT.TB- or TST-positive results were referred to infectious diseases physician for evaluation. Anti-TB therapy (ATT) was prescribed if required. Patients' treatment response and recurrence were monitored for six months after completion of ATT, if given; or 1 year if no ATT was given.Diagnosis of TAU.Mean age of study cohort (n=138) was 46.8 ± 15.3 years. Majority were Chinese (n=80, 58.0%) and female (n=75, 54.3%). TST was more sensitive than T-SPOT.TB (72.0% vs 36.0%); but T-SPOT.TB was more specific (75.0% vs 51.1%) for diagnosing TAU. Patients with either a T-SPOT.TB (1.44; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 0.86-2.42) or TST (1.47; 95% CI, 1.12-1.94)-positive result are more likely to have TAU. The accuracy of diagnosing TAU increases when both tests are used in combination (area under the receiver operator curve=0.665; 95% CI, 0.533-0.795). Patients with both tests positive are 2.16 (95% CI, 1.23-3.80) times more likely to have TAU. Negative T-SPOT.TB or TST results do not exclude TAU (negative likelihood ratios <1.0).We recommend using a combination of clinical signs, IGRA, and TST to diagnose TAU.
Male, Singapore, Tuberculin Test, Reproducibility of Results, Tuberculosis, Ocular, Middle Aged, Sensitivity and Specificity, Cohort Studies, Uveitis, Interferon-gamma, Predictive Value of Tests, Area Under Curve, Clinical Study, Ethnicity, Humans, False Positive Reactions, Female, Prospective Studies, Interferon-gamma Release Tests
Male, Singapore, Tuberculin Test, Reproducibility of Results, Tuberculosis, Ocular, Middle Aged, Sensitivity and Specificity, Cohort Studies, Uveitis, Interferon-gamma, Predictive Value of Tests, Area Under Curve, Clinical Study, Ethnicity, Humans, False Positive Reactions, Female, Prospective Studies, Interferon-gamma Release Tests
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 57 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
