title: Fertility in male patients with seronegative spondyloarthropathies treated with infliximab.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The majority of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are affected during their peak reproductive years. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of both diseases. Today, anti-TNFα blockers are an essential treatment for these patients. To identify male patients who achieved pregnancy development during their management with anti-TNFα blockers (infliximab).
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the data of 65 patients with AS and 30 patients with PsA who were followed-up in our rheumatology outpatients clinic and they were on infliximab therapy between January 2001 and December 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified overall seven male patients with AS and three male patients with PsA who had fathered 14 healthy infants. Moreover, we recognized one man with PsA who was on infliximab and on concomitant therapy with MTX at the time of conception, whose wife had to proceed to therapeutic abortion due to congenital abnormalities of the fetus (hydrocephalia), while she was on the first trimester of pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We described male patients with AS and PsA who demonstrated no fertility problems while they were on infliximab treatment. The data designated in this report provide some supportive evidence for the safe use of infliximab in male patients who are affected of those inflammatory diseases during their peak reproductive years.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioanna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Saougou
authors.forename: Theodora E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Markatseli
authors.forename: Charalampos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Papagoras
authors.forename: Evripidis
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaltsonoudis
authors.forename: Paraskevi V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Voulgari
authors.forename: Alexandros A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Drosos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D025242:Spondylarthropathies / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab