title: West nile virus meningoencephalitis and acute flaccid paralysis after infliximab treatment.
abstract: West Nile virus (WNV) can cause severe central nervous system (CNS) illnesses including meningoencephalitis (MNE) and acute flaccid paralysis (AFP). Risk factors include advanced age, immunosuppression, cancer, and diabetes. In vitro studies show that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has anti-WNV activity and is protective against WNV infection. Anti-TNF-a monoclonal antibodies may increase susceptibility to WNV by inhibiting an adequate TNF-a response, leading to prolonged viremia, viral penetration into the CNS, and fulminant WNV-CNS disease. We describe a fatal case of WNV with MNE and AFP after infliximab therapy. During WNV outbreaks, clinicians should encourage patients receiving anti-TNF-a drugs to take appropriate preventive measures because of the risk of severe WNV-CNS disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Virology and the Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. kchan@medicine.umaryland.edu
authors.forename: Kirk M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Chan-Tack
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forrest
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069285:Infliximab