Choice of Biologic Therapy for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Infection Perspective
2011
Choosing Biologic Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Infection Risks
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Filip De Keyser
Primary Institution: Ghent University, Belgium
Hypothesis
What are the infection risks associated with different biologic therapies for rheumatoid arthritis?
Conclusion
Biologic therapies for rheumatoid arthritis improve disease control but increase the risk of infections.
Supporting Evidence
- Biological therapies target specific inflammatory pathways to control rheumatoid arthritis.
- Patients on biologic therapy have an increased risk of infections due to immunosuppression.
- Different biologics have varying levels of infection risk associated with their use.
Takeaway
This study explains that while new treatments for arthritis help with symptoms, they can also make patients more likely to get infections.
Methodology
The article reviews literature data on infection risks associated with various biologic therapies for rheumatoid arthritis.
Limitations
The study lacks comparative data on infection risks between different biologic therapies.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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