Tumour necrosis factor α inhibitors: Screening for tuberculosis infection in inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

• Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) α inhibitors such as infliximab are becoming more widely used for the treatment of selected patients with Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other inflammatory disorders. • TNFα inhibitors increase the risk of serious infections, including tuberculosis. • Screening for and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection before infliximab therapy reduces the risk of developing active tuberculosis. • New blood tests that measure interferon γ production are an alternative to traditional tuberculin skin testing and offer some significant advantages over skin testing for screening of latent tuberculosis infection.