Kim BJ, Choi YS, Jang BI et al.
Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Inflamm Bowel Dis 2011;17:1308–13.
Editor’s note: The authors of this report examined the utility of the QuantiFERON®-TB gold test (QFT; Cellestis, Carnegie, VIC, Australia), an interferon-γ (IFN-γ) release assay, and tuberculin skin test (TST) in patients with intestinal tuberculosis (ITB) or Crohn’s disease (CD). This study was conducted in 13 hospitals in Korea between June 2007 and November 2008. Of the 165 patients enrolled in the study, 128 patients were analyzed, of whom 64 had ITB and 64 had CD. Patients with suspected ITB or CD at colonoscopy were enrolled and a QFT and TST were performed. Other diagnostic tests for TB and CD were administered as per standard medical practice, including examination of histological specimens and culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Where the diagnosis could not be established, 2–3 months of empiric anti-tuberculosis therapy was administered, and, depending on the clinical response, further investigations and treatment was given.