Severe adverse reactions to Infliximab therapy are common in young children with inflammatory bowel disease.
Since 2000 we have introduced 141 Infliximab infusions to 23 children with severe inflammatory bowel disease. A total of seven severe adverse reactions occurred in 26% (6 of 23) of the children. Four reactions were acute (anaphylaxis n = 2; allergic reaction n = 2) and 3/4 of these children were younger than 10 years of age. Two children developed an abscess and one child had septicaemia and brain lesions related to progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy.


CONCLUSIONS
adverse reactions to Infliximab infusions are common. Young children seem to be prone to severe allergic reactions although they are on azathioprine and conventional glucocorticoid therapy.
Kolho
K-L
KL
Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Helsinki, Box 281, FIN-00029 HYKS, Helsinki, Finland. kaija-leena.kolho@helsinki.fi
Ruuska
T
T
Savilahti
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D019804:Mesalamine; D000069285:Infliximab; D001379:Azathioprine