RESEARCH - Anti-TNF therapy increases the occurrence of shingles and chicken pox in RA

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MedicalNewsToday.com

09 Nov 2010

Anti-TNF therapy increases the occurrence of shingles and chicken pox

in people with rheumatoid arthritis

Anti tumor necrosis factor therapy increases the risk of developing

varicella zoster virus infections, including shingles and chicken pox,

according to research presented this week at the American College of

Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Atlanta.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that causes pain, stiffness,

swelling, and limitation in the motion and function of multiple

joints. Though joints are the principal body parts affected by RA,

inflammation can develop in other organs as well. An estimated 1.3

million Americans have RA, and the disease typically affects women

twice as often as men..

Varicella zoster virus is a common viral infection. The initial

infection typically occurs in childhood, causing chicken pox, and

reactivation later in life results in herpes zoster (shingles). The

body's immune defense against both chicken pox and herpes zoster

relies on immune pathways that may be impaired by anti-TNF therapy

theoretically predisposing people who take anti-TNF therapy to

varicella zoster-associated infection..

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http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/207072.php

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