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Updated: Dec 6, 2025

An Automated Culture System for Use in Preclinical Testing of Host-Directed Therapies for Tuberculosis
Published on: August 16, 2021
Treatment of latent tuberculosis infection in patients receiving biologic agents
Hayato Yamana1, Arisa Iba2, Jun Tomio2
1Department of Health Services Research, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
Introduction:
Treatment of latent tuberculosis infection is recommended in patients receiving biologics. However, evidence is weak regarding the efficacy of treatment regimens in this population, and the real-world practice pattern has not been elucidated.
Methods:
Using a large-scale health insurance claims database in Japan, we identified patients who started treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors or other biologics. Treatment with isoniazid within 12 months of starting a biologic was summarized to evaluate the duration of treatment for latent tuberculosis infection and the time between start of isoniazid and initiation of a biologic.
Results:
Among 2064 patients starting biologics, 10% received treatment for latent tuberculosis infection with isoniazid. Among the patients with biologics and isoniazid, isoniazid was started in the same month as initiating biologics or 1 month before in 82%. In addition to the recommended 6- and 9-month treatments, 20% of patients were receiving isoniazid at 12 months after starting treatment and 20% received a prescription for 350 days or more.
Conclusions:
In patients starting biologics, treatment for latent tuberculosis infection was provided for different durations, including not only the recommended periods but also longer periods. Research on safety and effectiveness of the treatment in this population is necessary.
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