Tuberculosis in children and adolescents using biological agents: a nationwide cohort study from Turkey.

Abstract

Background: The use of biological agents in various diseases in children has been increasing and the risk of tuberculosis (TB) increases with them. We aimed to investigate the role of biological agents in children diagnosed with TB in a moderate level of TB country where TB screening is mandatory before and during biological agent treatment.

Study design and methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. All patients who were 0-18 years old and diagnosed with TB-related ICD-10 in the national health database system between 2018 and 2023 were included in the study. The number of patients, demographic characteristics, treatments used by the patients, underlying diseases, and organ involvement of TB were recorded. Children using and not using biological agents were compared.

Results: A total of 4351 children were diagnosed with TB, and 1.9% of them were treated with biological agents. The age of diagnosis was older (p = 0.001), and both pulmonary and extrapulmonary involvement was more frequent in children using biological agents (p = 0.001). Pulmonary involvement was more frequent in rheumatological diseases (p = 0.001), and naproxen usage was higher in children with pulmonary involvement (p = 0.014). Naproxen was found to increase the risk of pulmonary TB in children using biological agents (OR:3.824, p = 0.033).

Conclusions: The low frequency of TB may be due to effective TB screening before and during the therapy. The age of diagnosis was older, pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB involvement was more common in children using biological agents, which may be related to the immunosuppressive effects. Children using biological agents who are also using naproxen should be closely followed up in terms of pulmonary TB.