Overwhelming parasitemia with Plasmodium falciparum infection in a patient receiving infliximab therapy for rheumatoid arthritis.
We describe a 45-year-old woman receiving infliximab therapy for rheumatoid arthritis who developed an overwhelming Plasmodium falciparum infection with cerebral malaria. Physicians should be aware that patients receiving tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, such as infliximab, may be at increased risk of life-threatening malarial infections.
Geraghty
Estella M
EM
Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. EstellaGeraghty@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
Ristow
Bryan
B
Gordon
Shelley M
SM
Aronowitz
Paul
P
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D016779:Malaria, Cerebral / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D008875:Middle Aged; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab