Severe anaphylactic reaction to infliximab: successful treatment with adalimumab - report of a case.
Treatment with the anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha chimeric monoclonal antibody infliximab is highly effective in the treatment of refractory and fistulising Crohn's disease. Infliximab has been tolerated well, with minimal and short-lived adverse effects. The likelihood of severe reactions to infliximab, such as acute and delayed hypersensitivity infusion reactions, is small; nevertheless, if they do occur, they are life-threatening. We report a case of an anaphylaxis-like reaction in a 22-year-old female with long-standing Crohn's disease. The patient was treated successfully with adalimumab, a fully human anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha monoclonal antibody. Follow-up demonstrated mucosal healing and normalisation of elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine transcripts.
Stallmach
Andreas
A
Department of Gastroenterology, Marienhospital Altenessen, Essen, Germany. a.stallmach@kken.de
Giese
Thomas
T
Schmidt
Carsten
C
Meuer
Stefan C
SC
Zeuzem
Stefan S
SS
D000068879:Adalimumab; D000328:Adult; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068879:Adalimumab