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Nontuberuclous mycobacterial disease: updated diagnostic criteria for an under-recognized infectious complication of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy

Nature Clinical Practice Rheumatology volume 3, page E1 (2007)Cite this article

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Arising From: van Ingen J (2007) Pulmonary Mycobacterium szulgai infection and treatment in a patient receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy  Nat Clin Pract Rheum 3: 414–419 doi:10.1038/ncprheum0538

We read with interest the Case Study from Van Ingen et al. in which they describe a pulmonary Mycobacterium szulgai infection in a patient receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy. Their report highlights an emerging and heretofore poorly recognized serious infection that can occur under conditions of TNF blockade. With this Article Response, we wish to alert clinicians of the updated nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) diagnostic criteria, and suggest that NTM disease is probably under-recognized in the setting of TNF blockade.

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References

  1. American Thoracic Society (1997) diagnosis and treatment of disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria. Am J Resp Crit Care Med 156: S1–S25

  2. Griffith DE et al. (2007) An official ATS/IDSA statement: diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of nontuberculous mycobacterial diseases. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 175:367–416. Erratum in: Am J Respir Crit Care Med. (2007) 175:744–5

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. K Winthrop is head of the Oregon Mycobacterial Clinic and Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Divisions of Infectious Diseases, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, and Ophthalmology at the Oregon Health and Sciences University in Portland, Portland, OR, USA.,

    Kevin L Winthrop

  2. CL Daley is Head of the Division of Mycobacterial and Respiratory Infections and Professor of Medicine at National Jewish Medical and Research Center and the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO.,

    Charles L Daley

  3. Interim Pulmonary Division Chief, D Griffith is Professor of Medicine, University of Texas Health Center, Tyler, TX.,

    David Griffith

Authors
  1. Kevin L Winthrop
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  2. Charles L Daley
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  3. David Griffith
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kevin L Winthrop.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Winthrop, K., Daley, C. & Griffith, D. Nontuberuclous mycobacterial disease: updated diagnostic criteria for an under-recognized infectious complication of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy. Nat Rev Rheumatol 3, E1 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncprheum0621

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