Ophthalmology 117, 2 (2010)The Medline search is here with the relevant studies being
Friederike Mackensen, Matthias Becker, Stefan Zimmermann
We write regarding the publication of Ang et al, “Diagnosis of tuberculous uveitis: clinical application of an interferon-y release assay.” The authors present a well-performed study to evaluate the usefulness of the QuantiFERON (QFT) Gold test in the diagnosis of tuberculosis associated uveitis. We read the results with great interest as we ourselves work with this test and have published on the subject. Therefore, it took us by surprise that the authors state in their introduction, “the role of IGRAs [Interferon-y release assays] in the diagnosis of TB [tuberculous] uveitis is not well studied.” Towards the end of the paper they state, “This is the first and largest study of its kind to evaluate the use of QFT in the clinical diagnosis of uveitis.” A brief Medline search of papers published and or entered into PubMed by August 2008 (Ang et al first submitted their publication on September 7th) with the key words “quantiferon” and “uveitis” results in 3 publications, out of which not one is cited by the authors. One was published in 2006 and the 2 other papers were electronic publications from May and August 2008.
QuantiFERON TB-Gold--a new test strengthening long-suspected tuberculous involvement in serpiginous-like choroiditis
Initial results of QuantiFERON-TB Gold testing in patients with uveitis.
Gamma interferon assay as an alternative to PPD skin testing in selected patients with granulomatous intraocular inflammatory disease.
