P1275 Tuberculosis screening results of Inflammatory Bowel Disease patients from a Romanian Tertiary Center

Abstract Background Tuberculosis is considered to be a serious health problem, especially in Romania, which is known to have the highest burden in the European Union. As the biological therapy remains the main line in the management of the inflammatory bowel diseases, the screening and treatment of this infection are fundamental in order to provide better medical care. Methods The study included patients with inflammatory bowel disease who were followed up in the Gastroenterology II Clinic from the University Emmergency Hospital of Bucharest, between 2000 and 2025. Demographic and clinical data were collected retrospectively from the patient files. The QuantiFERON-TB Gold Test was used in order to screen for latent tuberculosis. For patients who developed tuberculosis symptoms, the sputum RT-PCR test was performed. Results Of 124 patients identified, 103 (83.06%) had positive results for latent tuberculosis and out of them, only 2 had a well-known history of active infection. The median age of this category was 51.35 (+/-16.78). The majority had ulcerative colitis and were men, non-smokers, with medium economical status, from urban areas. Multiple comorbidities (such as cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases) were found in more than 70% of cases and 39.80% had the criteria for metabolic syndrome. Prophylactic treatment with izoniazid was used and during 25-year follow-up, only 4 patients developed active infection while being under biological therapy. After the recommended anti-tuberculosis treatment, the evolution was favorable, without complications and the immunotherapy was continued. Conclusion The proportion of latent tuberculosis in inflammatory bowel disease patients was high, regardless age, economical environment, smoking status, comorbidities or other treatments, which outlines the importance of screening patients from countries with high and intermediate prevalence, as it can be associated even in the present day with important morbidity. References: 1. Cabriada JL, Ruiz-Zorrilla R, Barrio J, Atienza R, Huerta A, Rodríguez-Lago I, Bernal A, Herrero C. Screening for latent tuberculosis infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: Can interferon-gamma release assays replace the tuberculin skin test? Turk J Gastroenterol. 2018 May;29(3):292-298. doi: 10.5152/tjg.2018.17162. 2. Munteanu I, Cioran N, van Hest R, Abubakar I, Story A, Chiotan D, de Vries G, Mahler B. Tuberculosis Surveillance in Romania Among Vulnerable Risk Groups Between 2015 and 2017. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2022 Apr 20;18:439-446. doi: 10.2147/TCRM.S347748. Conflict of interest: Muru, Oana Maria: No conflict of interests