Herpes zoster in Crohn's disease during treatment with infliximab.
Infliximab is widely used in both inducing and maintaining remission of patients with Crohn's disease (CD). The efficacy of infliximab has been undoubtedly proven; however, various opportunistic infections have emerged. Herpes virus infections (being a type of opportunistic infection) in CD patients treated with infliximab alone with no other concomitant medications are, however, rare and have not aroused enough attention. Gastroenterologists have limited knowledge of the immunization status of patients with CD, and rarely do they take an adequate immunization history before immunosuppressive therapy. Here we report two herpes zoster (HZ) events in CD patients while using infliximab alone: in the first case, HZ occurred during the patient's 12th infusion for maintance therapy, and in the second case, HZ occurred during the patient's first course of infliximab after surgery for therapy of inducing remission. We hope to increase the gastroenterologists' awareness of this potential infection in CD patients during treatment with infliximab.
aDepartment of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University School of Medicine bThe Hubei Clinical Center & Key Laboratory of Intestinal & Colorectal Diseases, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
Xiaobing
X
Wang
Junzhang
J
Zhao
Siying
S
Zhu
Bing
B
Xia
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069285:Infliximab