title: Higher risk of tuberculosis reactivation when anti-TNF is combined with immunosuppressive agents: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Treatment with tumour necrosis factor antagonists (anti-TNF) has been recognized as a risk factor for tuberculosis (TB) reactivation. Our aim was to evaluate risk of TB reactivation in rheumatologic and non-rheumatologic diseases treated with the same anti-TNF agents with and without concomitant therapies.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating infliximab, adalimumab, and certolizumab in both rheumatologic and non-rheumatologic diseases until 2012. Results were calculated as pooled rates and/or pooled odd ratios (OR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 40 RCTs with a total of 14,683 patients (anti-TNF: 10,010; placebo: 4673) were included. TB reactivation was 0.26% (26/10,010) in the anti-TNF group and 0% (0/4673) in the control group, corresponding to an OR of 24.8 (95% CI 2.4-133). TB risk was higher when anti-TNF agents were combined with methotrexate or azathioprine as compared with either controls (24/4241 versus 0/4673; OR 54; 95% CI 5.3-88) or anti-TNF monotherapy (24/4241 versus 2/5769; OR 13.3; 95% CI 3.7-100). When anti-TNF was used as monotherapy, TB risk tended to be higher than placebo (2/5769 versus 0/4673; OR 4; 95% CI 0.2-15.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TB risk with anti-TNF agents appeared to be increased when these agents were used in combination with methotrexate or azathioprine as compared with monotherapy regimen. TB risk seemed to be higher than placebo, even when monotherapy is prescribed.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine, Rheumatology and Gastroenterology, 'Nuovo Regina Margherita' Hospital , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lorenzetti
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zullo
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ridola
authors.forename: Andrea Picchianti
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Diamanti
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Laganà
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gatta
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Migliore
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Armuzzi
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bruzzese
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000009:adverse effects; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000009:adverse effects; D000068582:Certolizumab Pegol; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000009:adverse effects; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015994:Incidence; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D000069285:Infliximab; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000009:adverse effects; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012008:Recurrence; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068879:Adalimumab; D001379:Azathioprine; D000068582:Certolizumab Pegol; D008727:Methotrexate
keywords: Ankylosing spondylitis; anti-TNF; inflammatory bowel diseases; methotrexate; psoriasis; rheumatoid arthritis; tuberculosis