Title: Risk and characteristics of tuberculosis after anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy for
inflammatory bowel disease: A hospital-based cohort study from Korea
Version: 1 Date: 06 Jul 2021
Reviewer:  Tao Li
Reviewer's report:
This study is well designed and analyzed in risk and characteristics of tuberculosis after anti-
TNF therapy for inflammatory bowel disease. The results could be helpful for other researchers
and readers’ practice. The interpretation is clear except few questions need to be further clarified.
Results:
1.“190 patients (96.0%) did not require TB prophylaxis or completed prophylaxis” What’s the
meaning of “did not require TB prophylaxis”, the definition or standard hasn’t been clarified
in the context.
Discussion:
1.The discussion in paragraph 3 seems not in line with paragraph 4. In paragraph 3, authors said
that the relatively lower incidence rate in the current study may benefit from high acceptance and
completion of TB preventive treatment in LTBI group. But in paragraph 4, authors concluded
that no difference for incidence rates in LTBI positive and LTBI negative groups. “The results
of the present study are thus in line with previous studies and confirm that LTBI is not a risk
factor for TB development in patients undergoing anti-TNF therapy who have undergone active
LTBI management.” These were conflicting.
3.“To confirm that the tests were reliable, we checked the HR of TB development in the TST
plus IGRA group and the IGRA-only group; there was no significant difference between the
groups in this regard (HR: 1.170, 95% CI: 0.417–3.284).” The result should be interpreted in
the Results part first before discussion.
Title: Risk and characteristics of tuberculosis after anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy for
inflammatory bowel disease: A hospital-based cohort study from Korea
Version: 1 Date: 06 Jul 2021
Reviewer:  Tao Li
Reviewer's report:
This study is well designed and analyzed in risk and characteristics of tuberculosis after anti-
TNF therapy for inflammatory bowel disease. The results could be helpful for other researchers
and readers’ practice. The interpretation is clear except few questions need to be further clarified.
Results:
1.“190 patients (96.0%) did not require TB prophylaxis or completed prophylaxis” What’s the
meaning of “did not require TB prophylaxis”, the definition or standard hasn’t been clarified
in the context.
Discussion:
1.The discussion in paragraph 3 seems not in line with paragraph 4. In paragraph 3, authors said
that the relatively lower incidence rate in the current study may benefit from high acceptance and
completion of TB preventive treatment in LTBI group. But in paragraph 4, authors concluded
that no difference for incidence rates in LTBI positive and LTBI negative groups. “The results
of the present study are thus in line with previous studies and confirm that LTBI is not a risk
factor for TB development in patients undergoing anti-TNF therapy who have undergone active
LTBI management.” These were conflicting.
3.“To confirm that the tests were reliable, we checked the HR of TB development in the TST
plus IGRA group and the IGRA-only group; there was no significant difference between the
groups in this regard (HR: 1.170, 95% CI: 0.417–3.284).” The result should be interpreted in
the Results part first before discussion.
Please review this paper.
user
Title: Risk and characteristics of tuberculosis after anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy for
inflammatory bowel disease: A hospital-based cohort study from Korea
Version: 1 Date: 06 Jul 2021
Reviewer:  Tao Li
Reviewer's report:
This study is well designed and analyzed in risk and characteristics of tuberculosis after anti-
TNF therapy for inflammatory bowel disease. The results could be helpful for other researchers
and readers’ practice. The interpretation is clear except few questions need to be further clarified.
Results:
1.“190 patients (96.0%) did not require TB prophylaxis or completed prophylaxis” What’s the
meaning of “did not require TB prophylaxis”, the definition or standard hasn’t been clarified
in the context.
Discussion:
1.The discussion in paragraph 3 seems not in line with paragraph 4. In paragraph 3, authors said
that the relatively lower incidence rate in the current study may benefit from high acceptance and
completion of TB preventive treatment in LTBI group. But in paragraph 4, authors concluded
that no difference for incidence rates in LTBI positive and LTBI negative groups. “The results
of the present study are thus in line with previous studies and confirm that LTBI is not a risk
factor for TB development in patients undergoing anti-TNF therapy who have undergone active
LTBI management.” These were conflicting.
3.“To confirm that the tests were reliable, we checked the HR of TB development in the TST
plus IGRA group and the IGRA-only group; there was no significant difference between the
groups in this regard (HR: 1.170, 95% CI: 0.417–3.284).” The result should be interpreted in
the Results part first before discussion.
assistant