Chronic immunosuppression is a known risk factor fortuberculosis. Our aim was to reach a consensus onscreening and prevention of tuberculosis in patientswith immune mediated inflammatory diseases candidatesto biologic therapy.Methods: Critical appraisal of the literature and expertopinion on immunosuppressive therapies and risk oftuberculosis.Results and Conclusion: The currently recommen dedmethod for screening is the tuberculin skin test and theinterferon gamma assay, after exclusion of active tuberculosis.Positively screened patients should be trea ted forlatent tuberculosis infection. Patients may start biologicaltherapy after 1 to 2 months, as long as they are strictly adheringto and tolerating their preventive regimen.
