Serious infections under treatment with TNF-alpha antagonists compared to traditional DMARDs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Biological treatments aiming to neutralize TNF-alpha (tumour necrosis factor alpha) (infliximab, adalimumab and etanercept) are increasingly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although increased frequency has not been observed in randomized clinical trials with TNF-alpha antagonist agents, postmarketing surveillance suggests that infections might be serious consequences of these therapies. Our aim was to compare infections in patients with RA under treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and TNF-alpha antagonists in a university outpatient rheumatology clinic in Turkey. A total of 130 RA patients treated with DMARDs and 48 treated with TNF-alpha antagonists were analysed for the incidence of infections. Patients taking TNF-alpha antagonists were also reviewed for infections before these therapies. The incidence of serious infections was 7/100 patient-years before TNF-alpha antagonists and 8.6/100 patient-years in DMARDs group. The incidence rose to 17/100 patient-years during therapy with TNF-alpha antagonists. In patients with RA on routine follow-up, treatment with TNF-alpha antagonists seems to carry an increased risk of infections compared to traditional DMARDs.
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Department of Internal Medicine, University of Marmara, Istanbul, Turkey. nevsun@superonline.com
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D000068879:Adalimumab; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000068800:Etanercept; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015994:Incidence; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D055815:Young Adult
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068879:Adalimumab; D000068800:Etanercept