Infections With Biologics in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Related Conditions: a Scoping Review of Serious or Hospitalized Infections in Observational Studies.
Biologic use is a major advance in the treatment of several autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis. In this review, we summarize key studies of serious/hospitalized infections in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is a risk factor for infections. High RA disease activity is associated with higher risk of serious infection. The risk of serious infections with tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) biologics is increased in the first 6 months of initiating therapy, and this risk was higher compared to the use of traditional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Emerging data also suggest that biologics may differ from each other regarding the risk of serious or hospitalized infections. Past history of serious infections, glucocorticoid dose, and older age were other important predictors of risk of serious infections in patients treated with biologics.
Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Faculty Office Tower 805B, 510 20th Street S, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA. Jasvinder.md@gmail.com.|Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA. Jasvinder.md@gmail.com.|Medicine Service, Birmingham VA Medical Center, Birmingham, AL, USA. Jasvinder.md@gmail.com.|Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA. Jasvinder.md@gmail.com.
Jasvinder A
JA
Singh
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D001688:Biological Products
Abatacept; Adalimumab; Biologics; Certolizumab pegol; Etanercept; Golimumab; Hospitalized infection; Infection; Infliximab; Non-TNF biologic; Rituximab; Serious infection; TNFi; Tocilizumab; Tumor-necrosis factor inhibitors