Incidence of TB in TNF-Treated and TNF-Untreated Patients
Cases of tuberculosis felt directly related to the use of TNF inhibitors (etanercept, infliximab, adalimumab) have been reported to the United States Food and Drug Administration as part of its voluntary post-marketing drug safety surveillance program. Despite more cases than expected, particularly associated with infliximab, this database is not organized in a way to provide accurate information about incidence rates of any infection in TNF inhibitor treated patients. Using a different data collection instrument, the National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases, Wolfe et al (Arthritis Rheum 50(2):372, 2004) examine the incidence of TB in patients with RA treated and untreated with Anti-TNF therapy. This data was first presented at the 2003 American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting. (read more)