Toxoplasmic chorioretinitis and antitumor necrosis factor treatment in rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To present the data supporting the possible relationship of ocular toxoplasmosis to antitumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
A Medline search was performed using the words "toxoplasmosis, anti-TNF-alpha antagonists, chorioretinitis." We report 2 RA patients who developed ocular toxoplasmosis while receiving anti-TNF-alpha therapy.


RESULTS
In addition to our patients with toxoplasmic chorioretinitis, there are 2 published cases of cerebral toxoplasmosis during treatment with anti-TNF-alpha agents.


CONCLUSIONS
The risk of serious toxoplasmic infection during anti-TNF-alpha therapy for RA should be recognized.
Lassoued
Slim
S
Service de Rhumatologie, Centre Hospitalier, Cahors, France. slim.lassoued@ch-cahors.fr
Zabraniecki
Laurent
L
Marin
Frédéric
F
Billey
Thierry
T
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D002825:Chorioretinitis / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D014122:Toxoplasma; D014126:Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab