title: Risk of infections associated with biological treatment in inflammatory bowel disease.
abstract: Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitors are biological agents introduced in the late 1990s for the treatment of different immune-mediated diseases as inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. The most commonly used TNF-α antagonists are infliximab, adalimumab, and certolizumab pegol, and though highly effective in lowering inflammation, the efficacy must be weighed against the potential for adverse events. The treatment-induced immunosuppression is suspected to increase the risk of infections, including the risk of reactivation of latent tuberculosis, as the TNF-α cytokine plays an important role in the immune function. In this topic highlight a short overview of the infection risk associated with TNF-α inhibiter therapy is outlined with a focus on the overall risk of serious infections, mycobacterial infection and latent viral infections.
authors.affiliation: Nynne Nyboe Andersen, Tine Jess, Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, DK-2300 Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Nynne Nyboe
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.affiliation: Nynne Nyboe Andersen, Tine Jess, Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, DK-2300 Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Tine
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jess
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001688:Biological Products; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
keywords: Biological treatment; Crohn’s disease; Infections; Inflammatory bowel disease; Risk; Tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors; Ulcerative colitis