RESEARCH - PCP complication of Remicade treatment in RA patients

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PCP Complication of Infliximab Treatment in RA Patients

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Mar 18 - Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia

(PCP) is a serious complication in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

(RA) who are treated with infliximab, according to results of a study

published in the March 15th issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism.

" Several clinical trials have demonstrated excellent efficacy for the

treatment of RA with infliximab, an anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha

(TNF-alpha) chimeric monoclonal antibody, " Dr. Masayoshi Harigai, of

Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan, and colleagues write.

" Because TNF-alpha is one of the key molecules protecting against

microorganisms in vivo, treatment with infliximab has been associated

with increased risk of opportunistic and serious infections in our

cohort. "

The researchers compared 21 RA patients receiving infliximab who

developed PCP and 102 patients receiving infliximab who did not

develop PCP, and identified risk factors for PCP in RA patients

treated with infliximab. In the present study, the authors

retrospectively reviewed these patients and report detailed clinical,

laboratory, and radiographic features.

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Read the whole article here:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/589809

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