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Dermatologists use anti–TNF-α agents to treat a number of skin conditions, but one serious complication related to their use is an apparent increase in the incidence of several kinds of infections, most notably tuberculosis. The monoclonal antibodies adalimumab and infliximab seem to confer a higher TB risk than the receptor fusion protein etanercept. Scattered studies have also shown an increased incidence of herpes zoster (HZ), an issue addressed by this prospective study based on data from a German registry of 5040 patients treated for rheumatoid arthritis.
The researchers compared the frequency of HZ among those receiving anti–TNF-α agents and those receiving other medications and examined a subgroup of patients who switched from one tre…