Progression of tuberculosis among patients with rheumatic diseases – A systematic review and meta-analysis

•Tuberculosis is an opportunistic infection that has become dominant in patients with autoimmune diseases.•TNF blocking may increase the activation of the TB granuloma and the growth of Mycobacteria in rheumatic diseases.•TB risk is significantly high in patients receiving disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in biologic-naive settings.•Treatment with glucocorticoid, Azathioprine, and leflunomide has a high probability of reinforcing TB.