Prevalence of Positive QuantiFERON-TB Test among Sarcoid Uveitis Patients and its Clinical Implications in a Country Non-endemic for Tuberculosis

AIM: To report on the prevalence and clinical implications of positive QuantiFERON-TB (QFT) test results in the diagnostic evaluation of a cohort of consecutive sarcoid uveitis patients in France. DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study. METHODS: This study included consecutive sarcoid uveitis patients who all underwent QFT testing. RESULTS: A total of 234 patients were included in the study, among them 28 (12%) were QFT-positive. Previously treated tuberculosis (TB) was documented in 2 patients. QFT-positive patients were older (59 ± 16 years vs. 51 ± 18 years, p = .025) and more in proportion to suffer from chronic uveitis and panuveitis compared to QFT-negative patients. Moderate and severe visual impairment were significantly more frequent in the QFT-positive group (35.7% vs. 18.9%, p = .049 and 25.0% vs. 9.2%, p = .022, respectively). CONCLUSION: The significant proportion of QFT-positive patients (12%) in this large series of sarcoid uveitis patients makes us suggest not to exclude the diagnosis of sarcoidosis in case of positive QFT in a low-endemic country for tuberculosis, and to manage these patients early by initiating without delay systemic steroids associated with latent tuberculosis therapy.