TNF Antagonists and Risk for Bacterial Infection

Patients taking TNF antagonists had significantly higher risk than those taking methotrexate alone.

The tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) antagonists infliximab, etanercept, and adalimumab are used increasingly in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other inflammatory disorders. These drugs are thought to increase susceptibility to infection, but the magnitude of this risk remains uncertain. To address this issue, researchers used data from a large U.S. healthcare organization to compare 2393 patients with RA who received a TNF-α antagonist (with or without methotrexate) and 2933 RA patients who received methotrexate but no TNF drug. About half the patients in both groups also received corticosteroids.

During a median observation period of 17 months, the rate of hospitalization with bacterial infection was 2.7% in the TNF group and 2.0% in the met…

Reviewing Author

Allan S. Brett, MD