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14 Tuberculosis Skin Test in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients
Author(s) -
Urbančič A,
Premru V,
Knap B,
Benedik M,
PonikvarButurović J,
Ponikvar R,
Bren A F
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
therapeutic apheresis and dialysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.415
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1744-9987
pISSN - 1744-9979
DOI - 10.1111/j.1526-0968.2005.222_14_14.x
Subject(s) - medicine , tuberculosis , subclinical infection , incidence (geometry) , hemodialysis , population , cellular immunity , dialysis , disease , immune system , gastroenterology , surgery , immunology , pathology , physics , environmental health , optics
The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) is increasing worldwide due to increasing number of immigrants during recent years. This increases the risk of TB in high risk groups of patients. Cellular immunity has been demonstrated to be impaired in chronic hemodialysis (CHD) patients. Accordingly the incidence of TB in dialysis patients was presumably higher than in the general population. In an attempt to detect patients at risk for TB among CHD patients a crossover evaluation of tuberculosis skin test was performed in our dialysis center. Some preliminary results are presented here. Among 203 tested CHD patients 139 (68.5%) did not respond. In 64 (31.5%) patients, infiltrate was detected. The diameter of the infiltrate was 1 to < 5 mm in 4/64 patients (6.25%); it was 5 to < 10 mm in 18/64 pts (28.1%) and > 10 mm in 36/64 patients (56.3%). Mean age of tested patients on CHD for more than a year was similar in infiltrate positive subgroups of patients: 59.7, 58.7, and 55.9 years respectively. There are questions whether younger CHD patients have a better preserved cellular immunity; whether markedly positive skin test reaction for TB is connected with triggered cellular immune response to TB or is it a sign of subclinical TB disease. Chronic hemodialysis patients with highly positive skin TB test should be actively examined for TB disease.