Pediatria pre prax 1/2012

Prevention of tuberculosis in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis treated with biological therapy

Biological therapy is still relatively a new treatment option for patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). It significantly improves the quality of life and the life prospects of children, but as with any therapy, even in this case there are some pitfalls. One of them is the risk of reactivation of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). The risk lies in the blockage of the physiological effects of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in developing granuloma during mycobacterial infection. The aim of this work is to provide an overview of current practice in preventing the risk of reactivation of LTBI in patients treated with anti-TNF drugs to pediatric practitioners.

Keywords: latent tuberculosis infection, biological therapy, TNFα, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, prevention.