[Update of the guidelines of the Israeli Association of Rheumatology for the prevention of tuberculosis in patients treated with TNF-alpha blockers].

The use of TNFalpha blockers is associated with reactivation of tuberculosis (TB). The previous guidelines of the Israeli Association of Rheumatology were based on the tuberculin skin test (TST), chest X ray and a questionnaire on possible previous exposure to TB. The growing use of Interferon-gamma released assay (IGRA) has prompted the need for an update to these guidelines.

Mortality of patients hospitalized for active tuberculosis in Israel.

Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis continues to cause of mortality, particularly in developing countries. Despite modern anti-TB treatment, the elderly and immigrants from TB-endemic countries are at risk. Multidrug resistance has yet to be resolved.

Increased Th1 and Th2 type cytokine production in patients with active tuberculosis.

Background: The global spread of tuberculosis necessitates the development of an effective vaccine and new treatment modalities. That requires a better understanding of the differences in regulation of the immune responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis between individuals who are susceptible or resistant to the infection. Previous immune studies in young Ethiopian immigrants to Israel did not demonstrate anergy to purified protein derivative or a Th2-like cytokine profile.

[Guidelines of the Israeli association of rheumatology for the prevention of tuberculosis in patients treated with TNF-alpha blockers].

The use of TNFalpha blockers is associated with reactivation of tuberculosis. The Israeli Association of Rheumatology nominated a committee to determine guidelines for the prevention of tuberculosis in patients taking TNFalpha blockers. The risk of reactivation of tuberculosis is higher with monoclonal antibodies to TNFalpha (infliximab, adalimumab) in comparison with the soluble receptor of TNFalpha (etanercept).

Auto-antibody profiles in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of a wide array of auto-antibodies in patients with tuberculosis (TB) compared with healthy controls.

Materials And Methods: Forty-seven consecutive patients (age 47 +/- 21 years, 29 males) with recently diagnosed active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and 39 healthy controls were enrolled. Data collected on a questionnaire included clinical features of the disease, duration of symptoms, presence of fever, cough, arthralgia, myalgia, sicca symptoms and others.