[CowgirlUp]

I have to have a PPD (tuberculosis) test for my work. I've tried to research whether this test has any negative side effects if you have MG and are on CellCept and doing plasma exchange. I haven't been able to find anything. Does anyone know if the PPD test is a problem given these factors?

Thanks very much,
MK

[Nicknerd]

Hey cowgirl,

I know that there can be problems with a tuberculosis skin test if you're on prednisone- it'll turn out negative even if you have it. I imagine the same types of problems might be present with other types of immunosuppresants.

The only thing I could find re. Cellcept and Tuberculosis testing was that TB testing should be done before Cellcept is started.

Sorry that I couldn't be of more help!
Nicky

[CowgirlUp]

Originally Posted by Nicknerd

Hey cowgirl,

I know that there can be problems with a tuberculosis skin test if you're on prednisone- it'll turn out negative even if you have it. I imagine the same types of problems might be present with other types of immunosuppresants.

The only thing I could find re. Cellcept and Tuberculosis testing was that TB testing should be done before Cellcept is started.

Sorry that I couldn't be of more help!
Nicky

Thanks, that is helpful! Perhaps I just won't take the Cellcept for a day or something . . . .I'm not so worried about a false negative since the chances of me having it are slim to none--I was more worried about allergic reactions or actually getting TB or something else from it since my immune system is suppressed.

Thanks again!
MK

[alice md]

stopping cellcept for one day, is not going to make any difference.

I think you should let them know that you are taking immunosupressants. there should be someone there who will be able to give answers and take medical responsibility over it.

ID specialists should know if when and how PPD should be administered and when it is advisable to avoid it.

alice

[CowgirlUp]

Originally Posted by alice md

stopping cellcept for one day, is not going to make any difference.

I think you should let them know that you are taking immunosupressants. there should be someone there who will be able to give answers and take medical responsibility over it.

ID specialists should know if when and how PPD should be administered and when it is advisable to avoid it.

alice

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. There isn't anyone there who will know. It's just an RN at one of my worksites. There aren't any docs there. I need the test in order to work at a health care facility--it's a state reg. What's an ID specialist? Infection disease specialist? I'll try calling one of my docs on Monday and see if they can tell me, although I'm not all that hopeful that they'll know either!

Thanks Alice
MK

[redtail]

When I had a tb scare in hospital(someone with tb visited the person next to me!!) I was only aloud to have the chest x ray, can't remember why I couln't have the other test. They repeated the x ray a few months later.

[jana]

MK, I had a teacher friend who, for some reason or another, ALWAYS tested positive to the TB skin test -- she ALWAYS had to have the chest x-ray, which was ALWAYS negative.

I had an allergic reaction to a skin test one time -- as a child or teenager -- can't remember at what age. I've had BOTH kinds of tests -- the gun type -- with about six (??) needle pricks (not a problem) and the under the skin bubble type -- THAT is the one that itched until I thought I was gonna claw my arm off. It started almost IMMEDIATELY, so they KNEW it was NOT the TB causing the reaction, but the "medium" or "solution" or "suspension" (am I using the right word?) and told my mom to give me some Benadryl.

[Nicknerd]

The person I shared a room with both after my thymectomy, and during my exacerbation (she had emphysema and was a long-term patient there) had had Tuberculosis in the past...I've always wondered if that's something I should be concerned about Especially since after I've had my surgery, I've had wheezing- something I never had before...

How long is TB contagious for? She said that she only found out because they found these weird cyst things in her lungs or something....