More proof that autoimmune disease patients have chronic infections
By Linda on Aug 16, 2010 in Infections | comments(0)
More proof that autoimmune disease patients have chronic infections that are not widely recognized; this time we are talking about TB!
This research further supports the need for serious efforts to lower the total body burden of pathogens in all autoimmune diseases since 19% tested positive to TB. Of course they may all well have other concurrent infections with things like Chlamydia and CMV and even LYME too. No one has the dollars to fully test for every possible infection, and thus affordable non-toxic, out-patient, anti-infective therapies like ACS take a tremendous importance. It is always nice if initially some IV UVB and Ozone can be given to really aggressively lower the burden but always know that long term use of ACS and related
infection control nutrients are crucial, as the organism are usually never completely eradicated, and when they return, exacerbations of the autoimmune condition will follow.
This is the conclusion from this research – 19% test positive for TB.
Overall, 74 (19%) out of 393 subjects were TST-positive and 52 (13%) were QFT-GIT-positive. Concordance between TST and QFT-GIT results was good (87.7%): 13 were QFT-GIT-positive/TST-negative and 35 QFT-GIT-negative/TST-positive.
Garry F. Gordon MD,DO,MD(H)
President, Gordon Research Institute
www.gordonresearch.com
Full article: http://erj.ersjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/33/3/586
Excerpt:
Screening for active tuberculosis (TB) and latent TB infection (LTBI) is mandatory prior to the initiation of tumour necrosis factor- inhibitor therapy. However, no agreement exists on the best strategy for detecting LTBI in this population. The aim of the present study was to analyse the performance of the tuberculin skin test (TST) and QuantiFERON®-TB Gold in-tube (QFT-GIT) on LTBI detection in subjects with immunomediated inflammatory diseases (IMID).
The TST and QFT-GIT were prospectively performed in 398 consecutive IMID subjects, 310 (78%) on immunosuppressive therapy and only 16 (4%) had been bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccinated.
Indeterminate results to QFT-GIT were found in five (1.2%) subjects. Overall, 74 (19%) out of 393 subjects were TST-positive and 52 (13%) were QFT-GIT-positive. Concordance between TST and QFT-GIT results was good (87.7%): 13 were QFT-GIT-positive/TST-negative and 35 QFT-GIT-negative/TST-positive. By multivariate analysis both tests were significantly associated with older age. Only the TST was associated with BCG vaccination and radiological lesions of past TB. Use of immunosuppressive drugs differently modulated QFT-GIT or TST scoring.
