Abstract
We sought to determine factors associated with opportunistic infections (OI) in infliximab-treated patients. A retrospective study cohort (1999-2004) was examined. Nine OI were diagnosed in 94 infliximab-treated patients: tuberculosis (four), visceral leishmaniasis (one), pyogenic muscular abscess (one Salmonella spp. and one Streptococcus pneumoniae), and two viral infections (hepatitis B virus [HBV] and zoster ophthalmicus). The risk for OI was significantly higher in the first year of treatment (odds ratio [OR] 8; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2-50). Previous treatment with more than two immunosuppressive drugs was the only factor related to OI (OR 8.686; 95% CI 1.889-39.943). We identified the subset of patients treated with infliximab who had a higher risk for OI. The screening of latent infections is key to diminishing the incidence of these infections.
MeSH terms
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Abscess / epidemiology
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Abscess / etiology
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Adolescent
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Adult
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Aged
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Aged, 80 and over
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Antibodies, Monoclonal / adverse effects*
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Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
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Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
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Arthritis, Rheumatoid / complications
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Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy
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Cohort Studies
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Crohn Disease / complications
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Crohn Disease / drug therapy
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Female
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Hepatitis B / epidemiology
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Hepatitis B / etiology
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Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus / epidemiology
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Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus / etiology
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Humans
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Immune System / drug effects
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Immunosuppression Therapy / adverse effects*
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Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects*
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Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology
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Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
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Infliximab
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Leishmaniasis, Visceral / epidemiology
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Leishmaniasis, Visceral / etiology
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Opportunistic Infections* / epidemiology
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Opportunistic Infections* / etiology
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Risk Factors*
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Statistics, Nonparametric
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Tuberculosis / epidemiology
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Tuberculosis / etiology
Substances
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Antibodies, Monoclonal
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Immunosuppressive Agents
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Infliximab