Open Access

Risk of tuberculosis during infliximab therapy for inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and spondyloarthropathy: A meta-analysis

  • Authors:
    • Qiang Wang
    • Zhenzhen Wen
    • Qian Cao
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: July 26, 2016     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2016.3548
  • Pages: 1693-1704
  • Copyright: © Wang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Infliximab is a promising drug with good outcomes demonstrated for diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthropathy (SpA). However, treatment with this drug may increase the risk of tuberculosis infection. The aim of the present study was to investigate infliximab‑associated tuberculosis infection. Literature searches in PubMed, MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were performed. Randomized controlled trials with >95% of the patients >18 years-old were included. Meta‑analysis was performed to investigate the incidence of tuberculosis infection after infliximab infusion. A total of 24 RCTs were included in the present meta‑analysis. In total, 21 (0.51%) tuberculosis infections were detected among 4,111 patients administered infliximab therapy, compared with 0 (0%) among 2,229 patients assigned to the placebo group. Pooled odds ratio (OR) of developing tuberculosis infection was significantly higher with infliximab therapy than with placebo [2.86; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.09‑7.52]. The OR of tuberculosis infection was 3.93 (95% CI, 0.91‑16.91) in RA, 2.46 (95% CI, 0.38‑15.92) in SpA and 1.66 (95% CI, 0.26‑10.57) in IBD. Rates of tuberculosis infection with infliximab therapy in RA, SpA and IBD were 0.70, 0.22 and 0.52%, respectively. Compared with placebo, infliximab therapy may increase the risk of developing tuberculosis. However, the ORs for the risk of infliximab-associated tuberculosis were not demonstrated to be significant in IBD, RA and SpA; therefore, these findings should be interpreted with caution. The risk of developing tuberculosis demonstrates the importance of the prevention and management of tuberculosis infection with infliximab therapy.

Introduction

Infliximab is a genetically constructed immunoglobulin (Ig)G1 murine-human chimeric monoclonal antibody that binds the soluble subunit and the membrane-bound precursor of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Consequently, it helps to decrease the biological activity of TNF-α (1,2). Neutralization of TNF-α has been suggested as a therapeutic strategy for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondyloarthropathy (SpA) and various other chronic inflammatory conditions (35). IBD, RA, and SpA are common chronic inflammatory conditions, characterized by episodes of remission and relapse, which have a major impact on the patients' physical, emotional and social well-being. TNF-α cytokine, which is expressed by activated macrophages, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of IBD, RA and SpA (68). Infliximab has been widely used to treat patients who failed to respond to other anti-inflammatory agents since FDA approval was attained in 1998. The advent of infliximab has dramatically improved the quality of life and prognosis of these patients.

Multicenter randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of infliximab throughout the past decade. These RCTs demonstrated that infliximab is an effective therapy for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases (912). However, the safety of infliximab remains a major concern to physicians and patients, including its short- and long-term side effects, which have limited its clinical use. Although the side effects are uncommon, they may be serious and potentially life-threatening. The most common side effects include infection, infusion reactions, tumor and lupus-like syndrome. Miscellaneous types of infections, such as bacterial, mycobacteria, invasive fungal, viral and parasitic infections have been observed since the approval of infliximab (13).

In animal models, TNF-α has been demonstrated to have a central role in the host response against tuberculosis, including granuloma formation and the containment of disease (14,15). Notably, antibodies against TNF-α induced reactivation of tuberculosis in a mouse model of latent infection (16). The role of TNF-α in the human immune response to tuberculosis remains unclear, and the effect on the tuberculosis infection of infliximab requires clarification. Previous large retrospective reviews of infliximab-induced tuberculosis have shown that the frequency of tuberculosis following infliximab therapy was elevated, as compared with other opportunistic infections (17). In addition, the rate of reported cases of tuberculosis treated with infliximab is higher than the background rate of tuberculosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (1820). However, the findings of previous RCTs that examined the association between infliximab and tuberculosis infection risk were inconsistent. The aim of present study was to analyze the findings of RCTs that investigated infliximab, with an emphasis on tuberculosis infection risk.

Materials and methods

Search strategy and study selection

To perform this review, we conducted a structured search in PubMed (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed), MEDLINE (http://webofknowledge.com/medline) and EMBASE (http://www.embase.com) databases up to May 2014 using the following search terms: (‘inflammatory bowel disease’ or ‘Crohn's disease’ or ‘ulcerative colitis’ or ‘rheumatoid arthritis’ or ‘spondyloarthropathy’) and (‘remicade’ or ‘infliximab’ or ‘monoclonal antibody cA2’) and (‘tuberculosis’ or ‘mycobacterial infections’). References from the articles that met the eligibility criteria were also examined and evaluated, and were selected for this review if they also met the criteria. Only articles published in English were included. Titles and abstracts of articles identified by the initial search were first evaluated by investigators for appropriateness to the study question, and full papers of potential eligible studies were subsequently obtained and reviewed in detail. The present meta-analysis was designed, analyzed and reported according to the PRISMA statement (21).

Criteria for the inclusion of an article in the present meta-analysis were as follows: (i) Randomized controlled trials; (ii) >95% of the patients are aged >18 years; and (iii) compared infliximab with or without concomitant immunomodulators therapy with placebo. Furthermore, for inclusion, studies were required to be independent from other studies in order to avoid giving double weight to estimates derived from the same trial, and to have sufficient information to allow adequate estimation of the relative risk (RR)/odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Studies were excluded if: (i) They were a review, lecture, comment or research that cannot be extracted with statistical data; or (ii) they included patients that were pregnant, hypersensitive to infliximab, exhibited systemic disease, or were given biological treatment previously.

Outcome assessment

The primary outcome was the occurrence of tuberculosis infection with infliximab, compared with placebo. The secondary outcome was mortality due to tuberculosis infection.

Data extraction

Two investigators individually evaluated all relevant articles identified by the literature search using pre-defined eligibility forms. Any discrepancies were resolved by discussion. The following information was obtained from each study: First author, year of publication, geographical region, disease type, sample size during the study, dosage of infliximab, duration of therapy, combination therapy (if any), number of individuals who experienced tuberculosis infection, tuberculosis manifestation, and prognosis of tuberculosis. Data were extracted as intention-to-treat analyses, wherever trial reporting facilitated this.

Quality evaluation

Jadad scoring was applied to assess the methodological quality of included trials, which judges the descriptions of randomization, double blinding, and subject withdrawal in the included trials (22). The quality scale ranges from 0 to 5 points with a low-quality report scoring ≤2 and a high-quality report scoring ≥3 (23).

Statistical analysis

Statistical heterogeneity between the studies was assessed using χ2 test and I2, which assumes the presence of heterogeneity at P<0.10 and/or I2 >50%. A fixed effects model was used when the heterogeneity test demonstrated a P-value of >0.10 and a I2 of <50%; otherwise, a random-effects model was used. Subgroup analyses were performed according to disease type, sample size, study quality, duration of therapy, whether patients in both infliximab and placebo arms were exposed to immunosuppressants and whether patients enrolled in infliximab and placebo arms were screened for tuberculosis. We compared individual ORs between these analyses using the Cochran Q statistic tool.

Funnel plot graph, and Begg and Egger tests were performed to evaluate publication bias. All analyses were conducted using the Revman 5.0 (Nordic Cochrane Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark) and Stata software (11.0; StataCorp LP, College Station, TX, USA). P<0.05 was considered to indicate a statistically significant difference.

Results

Literature search and characteristics of the included studies

The present search strategy identified 6,892 articles, 6,553 of which were excluded after the title and abstract were reviewed. For the remaining 339 articles, 316 articles were excluded due to duplication (n=54), not being an RCTs (n=127), a lack of placebo (n=67), no outcome of interest (n=49), and no data on tuberculosis (n=19). Finally, 23 articles were included in the present meta-analysis, reporting on 24 respective RCTs. Of these, 8 studies studied infliximab-associated tuberculosis incidence in IBD (2432), one of which reported two separate trials (29), 7 trials studied infliximab-associated tuberculosis incidence rates in RA (3339), and 8 trials studied infliximab-associated tuberculosis incidence in SpA (4047). A flow diagram of the selection process for the inclusion of studies in the present meta-analysis is shown in Fig. 1.

Duration of follow-up ranged between 12 and 54 weeks. The characteristics of the 24 trials are presented in Tables I and II, including the year the studies were conducted, number of patients treated, dose of infliximab administered, incidence of tuberculosis infection, tuberculosis manifestation, prognosis of tuberculosis and tuberculosis screening test prior to therapy.

Table I.

RCTs evaluating the incidence of infliximab-associated tuberculosis in patients with RA, SpA and IBD.

Table I.

RCTs evaluating the incidence of infliximab-associated tuberculosis in patients with RA, SpA and IBD.

A, Rheumatoid arthritis

Author, yearCountryStudy designDiseaseTreatment (number of patients)Duration (wks)Ref
Maini et al, 1998Netherlands, Germany, Austria, UKMC, DB, PC, phase 3Active RAGrp 1: Placebo plus MTX (n=14)26(33)
RCT; MTX allowed Grp 2: Placebo plus 1 mg/kg infliximab q4wks (n=14)
Grp 3: MTX plus 1 mg/kg infliximab q4wks (n=15)
Grp 4: Placebo plus 3 mg/kg infliximab q4wks (n=15)
Grp 5: MTX plus 3 mg/kg infliximab q4wks (n=14)
Grp 6: Placebo plus 10 mg/kg infliximab q4wks (n=14)
Grp 7: MTX plus 10 mg/kg infliximab q4wks (n=15)
Lipsky et al, 2000USA, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, UKMC, DB, PC, phase 3Active RAGrp 1: MTX plus placebo at wks 0, 2, 6 and q4kws (n=88)54/104(34)
RCT (ATTRACT); corticosteroids and NSAIDs allowed Grp 2: MTX plus infliximab 3 mg/kg at wks 0, 2, 6 and every 8 wk (n=86)
Grp 3: MTX plus infliximab 3 mg/kg at wks 0, 2, 6 and every 4 wk (n=86)
Grp 4: MTX plus infliximab 10 mg/kg at wks 0, 2, 6 and every 8 wk (n=87)
Grp 5: MTX plus infliximab 10 mg/kg at wks 0, 2, 6 and every 4 wk (n=81)
St Clair et al, 2004North America, and EuropeMC, PC, phase 3 RCTEarly RAAll patients: MTX 7.5 mg/week, which increased to 15 mg/week by wk 4 and 20 mg/week by wk 8 (n=1,004)54(35)
(ASPIRE); corticosteroids and NSAIDs allowed(≤3 years)
Grp 1: Placebo at wks 0, 2, 6 and q8kws through wk 46 (n=282)
Grp 2: Infliximab 3 mg/kg at wks 0, 2, 6 and q8kws through wk 46 (n=359)
Grp 3: Infliximab 6 mg/kg at wks 0, 2, 6 and q8kws through wk 46 (n=363)
Quinn et al, 2005UKDB, PC RCT; MTX allowedEarly poor prognosis RAGrp 1: Placebo plus MTX (n=10)48(36)
Grp 2: 3 mg/kg infliximab at wks 0, 2, 6 and q8wks plus MTX (n=10)
Westhovens et al, 2006Belgium, US, NetherlandsMC, DB, PC, phase 3Active RAGrp 1: Placebo at wks 0, 2, 6 and 14, and infliximab 3 mg/kg at wks 22, 26, and 30, and q8wks through wk 46 (n=363)54(37)
RCT (START); AZA, 6-MP
MTX, DMARDs and corticosteroids allowed Grp 2: Infliximab 3 mg/kg at wks 0, 2, 6, 14 and at least 3mg/kg q8wks through wk 46 (n=360)
Grp 3: Infliximab 10 mg/kg at 0, 2, 6, 14 and q8wks through wk 46 (n=361)
Abe et al, 2006JapanMC, DB, PC RCT; corticosteroids and NSAIDs allowedRAGrp 1: Placebo plus MTX (n=47)36(38)
Grp 2: 3 mg/kg infliximab at wks 0, 2, 6 plus MTX (n=49)
Grp 3: 10 mg/kg infliximab at wks 0, 2 and 6 wk plus MTX (n=51) Most of Grp 1, 2 and 3: 3 mg/kg infliximab q8wks plus MTX thereafter
Schiff et al, 2008Brazil, America, Argentina, France, MexicoDB, PC phase 3RAGrp 1: Placebo plus MTX (n=110)52(39)
RCT (ATTRACT) Grp 2: 3 mg/kg infliximab plus MTX at wks 0, 2, 6, 14, every 8 wk (n=165)

B, Spondyloarthropathy

Author, yearCountryStudy designDiseaseTreatment (number of patients)Duration (wks)Ref

Braun et al, 2002GermanyMC, DB, PC, phase 2Severe ASGrp 1: Placebo at wks 0, 2, 6 (n=35)12(40)
RCT; NSAIDs allowed Grp 2: Infliximab 5 mg/kg at wks 0, 2, 6 (n=35)
Van der Heijde et al, 2005Europe, US, CanadaMC, DB, PC, phase 3Active ASGrp 1: Placebo at wks 0, 2, 6, 12 and 18 (n=78)24(41)
RCT (ASSERT); NSAIDs allowed Grp 2: Infliximab 5 mg/kg at wks 0, 2, 6, 12 and 18 (n=201)
Marzo-Ortega et al, 2005UKDB, PC, phase 2 RCT;Active ASGrp 1: Infliximab 5 mg/kg at wks 0, 2, 6 14, 22 + MTX 7.5 mg/week (n=28)30(42)
NSAIDS and corticost-eroids allowed Grp 2: Placebo+MTX 7.5 mg/sem (n=14)
Inman et al, 2010CanadaMC, DB, PC, phase 3bActive ASGrp 1: Placebo (n=37)52(43)
RCT; NSAIDS and corti-costeroids allowed Grp 2: Infliximab 3 mg/kg at wks 0, 2, 6 and q8wks through wk 52 (n=39)
All patients: Infliximab 5 mg/kg at wks 22 or 38 if BASDAI>3 and a relative decrease of <50% in BASDAI
Van den Bosch et al, 2002BelgiumDB, PC, phase 2 RCT; corticosteroids and NSAIDs allowedActive SpAGrp 1: Placebo at wks 0, 2, 6 (n=20)12(44)
Grp 2: Infliximab 5 mg/kg at wks 0, 2, 6 (n=20)
Antoni et al, 2002Europe, US, CanadaMC, DB, PC, phase 3 RCTActive SpAGrp 1: Placebo at wks 0, 2, 6, and 14 (n=52) then infliximab 5 mg/kg at wks 16, 18, 22, 30,38 and 46 (n=50)50(45)
(IMPACT); one of MDARDs allowed
Grp 2: Infliximab 5 mg/kg at wks 0, 2, 6, and 14 (n=52), placebo at wks 16, 18 and infliximab 5 mg/kg at wks 22, 30, 38 and 46 (n=49)
Kavanaugh et al, 2005Europe, US, CanadaMC, DB, PC, phase 3Active SpAGrp 1: Placebo at wks 0, 2, 6, and q8wks through wk 22 (n=100)24(46)
RCT (IMPACT II); MTX and corticosteroids allowed Grp 2: Infliximab 5 mg/kg at wks 0, 2, 6, and q8wks to wk 22 (n=100)
Sieper et al, 2007Austria, Europe, South KoreaMC, DB, PC Phase 3bMTS active axial SpAGrp 1: Placebo+ naproxen 1000 mg/d at wks 0, 2, 6, 12, 18, 24 wks (n=52)24(47)
RCT (INFAST) Grp 2: Infliximab 5 mg/kg at wks 0, 2, 6, 12, 18, 24 wks (n=105)

C, Inflammatory bowel disease

Author, yearCountryStudy designDiseaseTreatment (number of patients)Duration (wks)Ref

Present et al, 1999North America and EuropeMC, DB, PC phase 3Fistulizing CDGrp 1: Infliximab 10 mg/kg at wks 0, 2, 6 (n=32)52(25)
RCT Grp 2: Infliximab 5 mg/kg at wks 0, 2, 6 (n=31)
Grp 3: Placebo at wks 0, 2, 6 (n=31)
Sands et al, 2001USMC, DB, PC phase 2,Active UCGrp 1: Single dose of placebo (n =3)12(26)
RCT(MT&W score >10)Grp 2: Single dose of infliximab 5 mg/kg (n=3)
Grp 3: Single dose of infliximab 10 mg/kg (n=3)
Grp 4: Single dose of infliximab 20 mg/kg (n=2)
Hanauer et al, 2002North America,MC, DB, PC, phase 3MTS CDAll patients: Infliximab 5 mg/kg at wk 0 (n=573)54(27)
Europe, IsraelRCT (ACCENT I); AZA Grp 1: Placebo at wks 2, 6 and q8wks to wk 46 (n=188)
6-MP, MTX and cortico-steroids allowed Grp 2: Infliximab 5 mg/kg at wks 2, 6 and q8wks to wk 46 (n=192)
Grp 3: Infliximab 5 mg/kg at wks 2 and 6 and 10 mg/kg q8wks to wk 46 (n=193)
Sands et al, 2004North America, Europe, IsraelMC, DB, PC, phase 3Fistulizing CDAll patients: Infliximab 5mg/kg at wks 0, 2, 6 (n=306)54(28)
RCT (ACCENT II); Grp 1: Placebo at wk 14 and q8wks through wk 46 (n=144)
AZA, 6-MP, MTX and corticosteroids allowed Grp 2: Infliximab 5 mg/kg at wk14 and q8wks to wk 46 (n=138)
Rutgeerts et al, 2005Belgium, Canada, Israel, America, FranceMC, DB, PC, phase 3Active UCGrp 1: Placebo at wks 0, 2, 6 and q8wks to wk 46 (n=121)54(29)
RCT (ACT I); AZA, 6-MP and corticoster-oids allowed Grp 2: Infliximab 5 mg/kg at wks 0, 2, 6 and q8wks to wk 46 (n=121)
Grp 3: Infliximab 10 mg/kg at wks 0, 2, 6 and q8wks to wk 46 (n=122)
Rutgeerts et al, 2005Belgium, Canada, Israel, America, FranceMC, DB, PC, phase 3Active UCGrp 1: Placebo at wks 0, 2, 6 and q8wks through wk 22 (n=123)54(29)
RCT (ACT II); AZA, 6-MP and corticoster-oids allowed Grp 2: Infliximab 5 mg/kg at wks 0, 2, 6 and q8wks to wk 22 (n=121)
Grp 3: Infliximab 10 mg/kg at wks 0, 2, 6 and 10 mg/kg q8wks to wk 22 (n=120)
Lemann et al, 2006FranceMC, DB, PC, phase 2Luminal steroid-dependent CDGrp 1: Placebo (n=58)52(30)
RCT; AZA and 6-MP allowed Grp 2: Infliximab 5 mg/kg at wks 0, 2, 6 (n=57)
Colombel et al, 2010Netherlands, Belgium, FranceMC, DB, phase 3 RCTMTS CDGrp 1: AZA 2.5 mg/kg capsules/placebo infusion (n=161)50(31)
(SONIC); AZA, 6-MP and corticosteroids allowed Grp 2: Placebo capsules/infliximab 5 mg/kg infusions (n=63)
Grp 3: AZA 2.5 mg/kg capsules/infliximab 5 mg/kg infusions (n=179) Capsules (daily)/infusions (wks 0, 2, 6, q8wks to wk 22)
Ochsenkuhn et al, 2004GermanySC, OL, PC phase 2Active UCGrp 1: Prednisolone 1.5 mg/kg qd for 2 wks, followed by a tapering regimen with a weekly reduction of 5 mg (n=7)14(32)
RCT; AZA and 6-MP allowed Grp 2: Infliximab 5 mg/kg at wks 0, 2, 6 (n=6)

[i] RCT, randomized controlled trial; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; SpA, spondyloarthropathy; IBD, inflammatory bowel disease; wks, weeks; Grp, group; q8wks, every 8 weeks; MC, multicenter; DB, double-blind; PC, placebo-controlled; AS, anylosing spondylitis; DMARDS, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; MTX, methotrexate; NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; AZA, azathioprine; 6-MP, 6-mercaptopurine; CD, Crohn's disease; UC, ulcerative colitis; OL, open label; SC, single center; MTS, moderate-to-severe; MT&W. modified Truelove and Witts.

Table II.

Characteristics of the included randomized clinical trials.

Table II.

Characteristics of the included randomized clinical trials.

Author, yearPatients treated with infliximabPatients that developed TB with infliximabPatients treated with placeboPatients that developed TB with placeboTB manifestationPrognosisScreenedRef.
Inflammatory bowel disease
  Present et al, 1999  630  310NSNSNS(25)
  Sands et al, 2001     80     30NSNSNS(26)
  Hanauer et al, 200238511880NSRecoveredPPD and CXR(27)
  Sands et al, 2004     60     70NSNSNS(28)
  Rutgeerts et al, 200524111230NSNSPPD and CXR(29)
  Rutgeerts et al, 200524302120NSNSPPD and CXR(29)
  Lemann et al, 2006  570580NSNSPPD and CXR(30)
  Colombel et al, 201024211610NSRecoveredPPD and CXR(31)
  Ochsenkuhn et al, 200413801440NSNSNS(32)
Rheumatoid arthritis
  Maini et al, 1998  870  140NSNSNo(33)
  Lipsky et al, 20003401  880Disseminated TBDNS (resistant TB)No(34)
  St Clair et al, 20047224 (US, 1; Europe, 3)28204 PulmonaryRecoveredNo(35)
  Quinn et al, 2005  100  100NSNSCXR(36)
  Westovens et al, 2006724836302 Pulmonary, 5 extrapulmonary (not disseminated)1 DNSCXR(37)
  Abe et al, 20061000  470NSNSCXR(38)
  Schiff et al, 2008165211001 Pulmonary, 1 extrapulmonaryRecoveredYes(39)
Spondyloarthropathy
  Braun et al, 2002  351  350Disseminated TBRecoveredCXR, not PPD(40)
  van der Heijde et al, 20052010  780NSNSCXR or PPD(41)
  Marzo-Ortega et al, 2005  280  140NSNSYes(42)
  Inman et al, 2010  390  370NSNSNS(43)
  Van den Bosch et al, 2002  201  200Disseminated TBRecoveredYes(44)
  Antoni et al, 200510001000NSNSNS(45)
  Kavanaugh et al, 2007  520  520NSNSCXR, PPD(46)
  Sieper et al, 20141051  520NSRecoveredCXR, PPD(47)

[i] TB, tuberculosis; PPD, purified protein derivative; CXR, chest X-ray; NS, not stated; DNS, did not survive.

Rates of tuberculosis infection in IBD, RA and SpA

Table III presents the rates of tuberculosis infection within each trial arm in each inflammatory disease assessed. Rates of tuberculosis infection with infliximab therapy were 0.70, 0.22 and 0.52%, respectively; whereas the rates of tuberculosis infection with placebo were consistently 0%, in RA, SpA and IBD. The rates of tuberculosis infection with infliximab therapy in IBD, RA and SpA were all higher than the rates with placebo.

Table III.

Rates of tuberculosis infection following infliximab therapy versus placebo in patients with RA, IBD and SpA.

Table III.

Rates of tuberculosis infection following infliximab therapy versus placebo in patients with RA, IBD and SpA.

DiseaseNumber of trialsTotal number of infliximab patientsNumber of infliximab patients infected with tuberculosis (%)Total number of placebo patientsNumber of placebo patients infected with tuberculosis (%)
RA  72,14815 (0.70)   9140 (0)
  IBD  8   580  3 (0.52)   3880 (0)
  SpA  91,383  3 (0.22)   9270 (0)
  Total244,11121 (0.51)2,2290 (0)

[i] RA, rheumatoid arthritis; IBD, inflammatory bowel disease; SpA, spondyloarthropathy.

Overall risk of tuberculosis infection with infliximab therapy vs. placebo in IBD, RA and SpA

The 24 trials examined in the present meta-analysis contain a total of 6,340 patients with IBD, RA and SpA. Of these, 4,111 (64.8%) patients were randomized to receive infliximab therapy, and 2,229 (35.2%) patients were administered a placebo. In total, there were 21 (0.51%) patients assigned to infliximab therapy who developed tuberculosis infection, as compared with 0 (0%) among patients allocated to placebo therapy. The pooled OR of developing tuberculosis infection was significantly increased with infliximab therapy, as compared with the placebo [2.86; 95% CI, 1.09–7.52] (Fig. 2), with no statistically significant heterogeneity detected between the studies (I2=0%; P=0.99). However, in each disease subgroup, the trends were not statistically significant. The OR of tuberculosis infection with infliximab therapy was 3.93 (95% CI, 0.91–16.91) in RA, 2.46 (95% CI, 0.38–15.92) in SpA, and 1.66 (95% CI, 0.26–10.57) in IBD. The difference among these subgroups was not statistically significant (Cochran Q=0.53; P=0.77) (Fig. 2). The findings demonstrate that infliximab therapy may increase the risk of developing tuberculosis compared with that for treatment with placebo.

Meta-analysis of tuberculosis infection with infliximab therapy vs. placebo in each subgroup

Subgroup analyses were performed (Table IV). The OR of tuberculosis infection with infliximab therapy was elevated in trials with ≥50 weeks of treatment (3.00; 95% CI, 0.97–9.29), as compared with those with a duration of <50 weeks (2.46; 95% CI, 0.38–15.92); however, there was no statistically significance (Cochran Q=0.03; P=0.86). Furthermore, the OR was also increased in the larger sample studies (2.94; 95% CI, 0.87–9.94), as compared with the smaller sample studies (2.71; 95% CI, 0.55–13.26); however, again there was no significant differences detected (Cochran Q=0.01; P=0.93). There were also no significant differences in the OR of tuberculosis infection with infliximab therapy accompanied with or without immunosuppressor (2.96; 95% CI, 0.94–9.29; and 2.59; 95% CI, 0.42–15.92; respectively, Cochran Q=0.02, P=0.90). When screening for tuberculosis prior to the examination of therapy according to the study design, the OR was also increased in trials that screened for tuberculosis (3.10; 95% CI, 1.04–9.21), as compared with those without screening (2.09; 95% CI, 0.26–17.13) (Cochran Q=0.11, P=0.74). Finally, risk of bias was judged in the RCTs (Fig. 3), the OR was elevated in trials with high or unclear risk (3.14; 95% CI, 0.93–10.54), as compared with those at low risk (2.35; 95% CI, 0.47–11.77); however, there was also no significant differences detected (Cochran Q=0.08; P=0.78). The results showed that subgroup differences did not increase the risk of tuberculosis infection with infliximab therapy compared with placebo.

Table IV.

Subgroup analyses of the odds ratio of TB infection with infliximab therapy vs. placebo in IBD, RA and SpA.

Table IV.

Subgroup analyses of the odds ratio of TB infection with infliximab therapy vs. placebo in IBD, RA and SpA.

VariableNumber of trialsNumber of infliximab patientsNumber of placebo patientsOR of TB infection95% CI I2 value (%)
All trials244,1112,2292.861.09–7.520
Disease
  RA  72,148   9143.930.91–16.910
  SpA  8   580   3882.460.38–15.920
  IBD  91,383   9271.660.26–10.570
Duration of therapy
  ≥50 weeks133,3271,7603.000.97–9.290
  <50 weeks11   784   4692.460.38–15.920
Immunosuppressor use
  Yes173,3901,7712.960.94–9.290
  No  7   721   4582.590.42–15.920
Screened for TB
  Yes162,5561,4713.101.04–9.210
  No  51,149   3842.090.26–17.130
Sample sizea
  Large  83,0981,4952.940.87–9.940
  Small161,013   7342.710.55–13.260
Risk of bias
  Low risk  7   896   5792.350.47–11.770
  High or unclear173,2151,6503.140.93–10.540

a Large samples sizes were ≥200 participants, whereas small sample sizes were <200 participants. TB, tuberculosis; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; IBD, inflammatory bowel disease; SpA, spondyloarthropathy; OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval.

Publication bias

Funnel plot analysis was performed, as demonstrated in Fig. 4. Funnel plot asymmetry was detected in the present meta-analysis (Egger test, P=0.002 and Begger test, P=0.004). These results provide some evidence of publication bias in the present study.

Discussion

TNF-α is required for granuloma formation and maintenance, and has an important role in host defense against diseases caused by intracellular pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Histoplasma capsulatum and Listeria monocytogenes (4850). The increased clinical use of TNF-α antagonists has markedly improved the management of immunomediated diseases; however, it may have led to an increase in the incidence of infections with intracellular agents. To the best of our knowledge, the present meta-analysis was the first to evaluate the potential risk of tuberculosis infection with infliximab therapy in the management of RA, SpA and IBD, by collating all obtainable data from 24 individual RCTs. The present meta-analysis demonstrated that the OR of tuberculosis infection with infliximab therapy was 2.86-fold greater than when using the placebo. However, the ORs in all three disease subgroups were not demonstrated to be statistically significant.

The role of TNF-α in the human immune response to M. tuberculosis is yet to be fully elucidated. An in vitro study has proposed that TNF-α has a significant role in the regulation of granuloma formation, which limits microbial growth (51). TNF-α, which is a pleiotropic cytokine produced by infected and activated macrophages/proinflammatory T cells, enhances macrophage activation, chemokine production by macrophages, and immune cell recruitment during tuberculosis infection (51). Anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibody administration may subsequently increase the risk of the dissolution of intact granulomas, the production of viable mycobacteria, and disease reactivation. This may clarify the increased likelihood of tuberculosis that was observed in patients receiving infliximab therapy.

In the present meta-analysis, 21 cases of tuberculosis, including 15 patients with RA, 3 patients with SpA and 3 patients with IBD, were evaluated. There were some limitations to the present study, even though the probability in each disease subgroup was not statistically significant. Firstly, as a consequence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening, a relatively low number of cases of TB activation were recorded in clinical trials of infliximab in IBD, RA and SpA. Overall, there were 0.51% cases of tuberculosis, 0.70% of which were in patients with RA, and 0.52 and 0.22% cases were in those with IBD and SpA, respectively. Compared with the tuberculosis incidence (38–300/100,000) in the general population based on data from the WHO in 2013, infliximab infusion appears to increase the occurrence of tuberculosis (52). However, a major limitation of the present meta-analysis is that there were only 21 tuberculosis cases included; thus the small sample size may account for why the ORs for the risk of infliximab-associated tuberculosis were consistently demonstrated to lack significance in IBD, RA and SpA. Therefore, the results of the present meta-analysis should be interpreted with caution. Secondly, besides a single trial performed in Japan, the remaining studies were conducted in Europe and the USA, with apparent variations in tuberculosis risk among the different countries. Due to the low incidence of tuberculosis in the Western countries, the incidence of tuberculosis infection in patients treated with inflaximab may be underestimated. Thirdly, the majority of tuberculosis cases were in RA trials, suggesting that the underlying disease and previous immunosuppressive treatment may constitute adjunctive risk factors for tuberculosis activation. Indeed, patients with SpA and IBD predominantly have limited background of immunosuppressive therapies when compared with sufferers of RA. However, not all trials included in the present study constrained the immunosuppressive therapies prior to enrollment, which may have impacted the precision of assessing the risk of infliximab therapy without or with immunosuppressors. The screening procedure for LTBI was reported in 14 trials, whereas it was not documented in the others. Conversely, despite the elevated risk that was demonstrated in the trials after the introduction of procedures to identify LTBI, screening procedures for LTBI prior to treatment are still required due to the limited sample size, relatively low incidence of tuberculosis infection and publication bias. For that reason, screening and management for latent tuberculosis is essential prior to the administration of anti-TNF-α treatments.

It has been demonstrated that infliximab infusion raises the tuberculosis incidence rate (35,38,39). The incidence rate of tuberculosis within this critique may be an underestimation, as the majority of the data that was analyzed originated from Western countries, whereas tuberculosis infection has a higher prevalence in developing countries. As is the situation in China, with the evolution of diagnostic techniques and medical treatment, RA, SpA and IBD incidence increased due to an increase in diagnosis. Despite the cost of infliximab, some patients are able to afford the cost and they are now at an increased risk for tuberculosis infection with a high latent infection rate among the population. It may be interesting to undertake multi-center clinical trials in East Asia in order to avoid inclusion bias.

By comparison, a significant proportion of extra-pulmonary and disseminated forms of tuberculosis were recognized, regardless of the preceding latent tuberculosis screening and treatment (38,39). The frame from the initial infusion to the incidence of tuberculosis varies and no obvious dose dependent effect was observed. These findings suggest that merely screening for TB and treating it prior to infliximab is not sufficient. Additional follow-up is required in order to carefully assess the potential of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis occurring at any dosage, months or years after infusion. The present meta-analysis established that infliximab therapy induced tuberculosis. This indicated that the overall likelihood of TB infection in patients receiving infliximab infusion is sufficient to justify the overall screening, prophylaxis treatment, and close observation of this potentially fatal side effect. Therefore, we consider a PPD test or tuberculin skin test and chest X-ray to be essential prior to treatment, particularly in developing countries.

The present research exhibited numerous positive aspects. Firstly, demanding and conventional methodologies were applied to conduct the present meta-analysis, including the reporting of our search strategy, inclusion criteria, and data extraction process. Moreover, data extraction was conducted by two independent reviewers. Secondly, all trials enrolled in the meta-analysis were high quality RCTs. Finally, no significant heterogeneity was detected between the studies when data were pooled to estimate the OR of tuberculosis infection with infliximab therapy vs. placebo.

The present meta-analysis has several limitations, as a result of the qualities of the published literature that is readily available for analysis. Firstly, only seven of the RCTs were at a low risk of bias, and the quantity of subjects incorporated into the present meta-analysis was limited. Secondly, with the exception of one RCT, all included trials were from developed countries with low tuberculosis incidence rates, and studies from developing countries with a high incidence of tuberculosis were not available, which resulted in a publication bias. Finally, other concerns regarding potential biases remain. In particular, the included trials did not provide any information regarding host-related risk factors, including ethnicity, malnutrition, drug abuse, comorbidity, and contact with infected persons.

In conclusion, the present meta-analysis of 24 RCTs, comprising details from >6,340 patients with RA, SpA and IBD, demonstrated that the OR of tuberculosis infection was markedly increased with infliximab therapy, as compared with placebo therapy. The overall rates of tuberculosis infection were low (0.51%).

Acknowledgements

The present study was supported by Zhejiang Provincial Traditional Chinese Medicine Science Research Foundation (grant no. 2015ZA010) and Zhejiang Provincial Medical and Health science Foundation (grant no. 2015KYB020).

References

1 

Knight DM, Trinh H, Le J, Siegel S, Shealy D, McDonough M, Scallon B, Moore MA, Vilcek J, Daddona P, et al: Construction and initial characterization of a mouse-human chimeric anti-TNF antibody. Mol Immunol. 30:1443–1453. 1993. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

2 

Scallon BJ, Moore MA, Trinh H, Knight DM and Ghrayeb J: Chimeric anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody cA2 binds recombinant transmembrane TNF-alpha and activates immune effector functions. Cytokine. 7:251–259. 1995. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

3 

Van Deventer SJ: Tumour necrosis factor and Crohn's disease. Gut. 40:443–448. 1997. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

4 

Feldmann M, Brennan FM and Maini RN: Rheumatoid arthritis. Cell. 85:307–310. 1996. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

5 

Guignard S, Gossec L, Salliot C, Ruyssen-Witrand A, Luc M, Duclos M and Dougados M: Efficacy of tumour necrosis factor blockers in reducing uveitis flares in patients with spondylarthropathy: A retrospective study. Ann Rheum Dis. 65:1631–1634. 2006. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

6 

Murch SH, Braegger CP, Walker-Smith JA and MacDonald TT: Location of tumour necrosis factor alpha by immunohistochemistry in chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Gut. 34:1705–1709. 1993. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

7 

Husby G and Williams RC Jr: Synovial localization of tumor necrosis factor in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. J Autoimmun. 1:363–371. 1988. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

8 

Tse SM, Burgos-Vargas R and Laxer RM: Anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha blockade in the treatment of juvenile spondylarthropathy. Arthritis Rheum. 52:2103–2108. 2005. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

9 

Aaltonen KJ, Virkki LM, Malmivaara A, Konttinen YT, Nordström DC and Blom M: Systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of existing TNF blocking agents in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. PLoS One. 7:e302752012. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

10 

Wiens A, Correr CJ, Venson R, Grochocki MC, Otuki MF and Pontarolo R: A meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of using infliximab for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Rheumatol. 28:1365–1373. 2009. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

11 

Wiens A, Venson R, Correr CJ, Otuki MF and Pontarolo R: Meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Pharmacotherapy. 30:339–353. 2010. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

12 

Stidham RW, Lee TC, Higgins PD, Deshpande AR, Sussman DA, Singal AG, Elmunzer BJ, Saini SD, Vijan S and Waljee AK: Systematic review with network meta-analysis: The efficacy of anti-tumour necrosis factor-alpha agents for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 39:660–671. 2014. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

13 

Scheinfeld N: A comprehensive review and evaluation of the side effects of the tumor necrosis factor alpha blockers etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab. J Dermatolog Treat. 15:280–294. 2004. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

14 

Flynn JL, Goldstein MM, Chan J, Triebold KJ, Pfeffer K, Lowenstein CJ, Schreiber R, Mak TW and Bloom BR: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha is required in the protective immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in mice. Immunity. 2:561–572. 1995. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

15 

Kindler V, Sappino AP, Grau GE, Piguet PF and Vassalli P: The inducing role of tumor necrosis factor in the development of bactericidal granulomas during BCG infection. Cell. 56:731–740. 1989. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

16 

Mohan VP, Scanga CA, Yu K, Scott HM, Tanaka KE, Tsang E, Tsai MM, Flynn JL and Chan J: Effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha on host immune response in chronic persistent tuberculosis: Possible role for limiting pathology. Infect Immun. 69:1847–1855. 2001. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

17 

Ford AC and Peyrin-Biroulet L: Opportunistic infections with anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha therapy in inflammatory bowel disease: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Gastroenterol. 108:1268–1276. 2013. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

18 

Keane J, Gershon S, Wise RP, Mirabile-Levens E, Kasznica J, Schwieterman WD, Siegel JN and Braun MM: Tuberculosis associated with infliximab, a tumor necrosis factor alpha-neutralizing agent. N Engl J Med. 345:1098–1104. 2001. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

19 

Wallis RS, Broder MS, Wong JY, Hanson ME and Beenhouwer DO: Granulomatous infectious diseases associated with tumor necrosis factor antagonists. Clin Infect Dis. 38:1261–1265. 2004. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

20 

Askling J, Fored CM, Brandt L, Baecklund E, Bertilsson L, Cöster L, Geborek P, Jacobsson LT, Lindblad S, Lysholm J, et al: Risk and case characteristics of tuberculosis in rheumatoid arthritis associated with tumor necrosis factor antagonists in Sweden. Arthritis Rheum. 52:1986–1992. 2005. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

21 

Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J and Altman DG: PRISMA Group: Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The PRISMA statement. PLoS Med. 6:e10000972009. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

22 

Jadad AR, Moore RA, Carroll D, Jenkinson C, Reynolds DJ, Gavaghan DJ and McQuay HJ: Assessing the quality of reports of randomized clinical trials: Is blinding necessary? Control Clin Trials. 17:1–12. 1996. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

23 

Moher D, Pham B, Jones A, Cook DJ, Jadad AR, Moher M, Tugwell P and Klassen TP: Does quality of reports of randomised trials affect estimates of intervention efficacy reported in meta-analyses? Lancet. 352:609–613. 1998. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

24 

Targan SR, Hanauer SB, van Deventer SJ, Mayer L, Present DH, Braakman T, DeWoody KL, Schaible TF and Rutgeerts PJ: A short-term study of chimeric monoclonal antibody cA2 to tumor necrosis factor alpha for Crohn's disease. Crohn's Disease cA2 Study Group. N Engl J Med. 337:1029–1035. 1997. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

25 

Present DH, Rutgeerts P, Targan S, Hanauer SB, Mayer L, van Hogezand RA, Podolsky DK, Sands BE, Braakman T, DeWoody KL, et al: Infliximab for the treatment of fistulas in patients with Crohn's disease. N Engl J Med. 340:1398–1405. 1999. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

26 

Sands BE, Tremaine WJ, Sandborn WJ, Rutgeerts PJ, Hanauer SB, Mayer L, Targan SR and Podolsky DK: Infliximab in the treatment of severe, steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis: A pilot study. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 7:83–88. 2001. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

27 

Hanauer SB, Feagan BG, Lichtenstein GR, Mayer LF, Schreiber S, Colombel JF, Rachmilewitz D, Wolf DC, Olson A, Bao W, et al: ACCENT I Study Group: Maintenance infliximab for Crohn's disease: The ACCENT I randomised trial. Lancet. 359:1541–1549. 2002. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

28 

Sands BE, Anderson FH, Bernstein CN, Chey WY, Feagan BG, Fedorak RN, Kamm MA, Korzenik JR, Lashner BA, Onken JE, et al: Infliximab maintenance therapy for fistulizing Crohn's disease. N Engl J Med. 350:876–885. 2004. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

29 

Rutgeerts P, Sandborn WJ, Feagan BG, Reinisch W, Olson A, Johanns J, Travers S, Rachmilewitz D, Hanauer SB, Lichtenstein GR, et al: Infliximab for induction and maintenance therapy for ulcerative colitis. N Engl J Med. 353:2462–2476. 2005. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

30 

Lemann M, Mary JY, Duclos B, Veyrac M, Dupas JL, Delchier JC, Laharie D, Moreau J, Cadiot G, Picon L, et al: Infliximab plus azathioprine for steroid-dependent Crohn's disease patients: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Gastroenterology. 130:1054–1061. 2006. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

31 

Colombel JF, Sandborn WJ, Reinisch W, Mantzaris GJ, Kornbluth A, Rachmilewitz D, Lichtiger S, D'Haens G, Diamond RH, Broussard DL, et al: Infliximab, azathioprine, or combination therapy for Crohn's disease. N Engl J Med. 362:1383–1395. 2010. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

32 

Ochsenkuhn T, Sackmann M and Göke B: Infliximab for acute, not steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis: A randomized pilot study. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 16:1167–1171. 2004. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

33 

Maini RN, Breedveld FC, Kalden JR, Smolen JS, Davis D, Macfarlane JD, Antoni C, Leeb B, Elliott MJ, Woody JN, et al: Therapeutic efficacy of multiple intravenous infusions of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha monoclonal antibody combined with low-dose weekly methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 41:1552–1563. 1998. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

34 

Lipsky PE, van der Heijde DM, St Clair EW, Furst DE, Breedveld FC, Kalden JR, Smolen JS, Weisman M, Emery P, Feldmann M, et al: Infliximab and methotrexate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Anti-tumor necrosis factor trial in rheumatoid arthritis with concomitant therapy study group. N Engl J Med. 343:1594–1602. 2000. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

35 

St Clair EW, van der Heijde DM, Smolen JS, Maini RN, Bathon JM, Emery P, Keystone E, Schiff M, Kalden JR, Wang B, et al: Active-Controlled Study of Patients Receiving Infliximab for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis of Early Onset Study Group: Combination of infliximab and methotrexate therapy for early rheumatoid arthritis: A randomized, controlled trial. Arthritis Rheum. 50:3432–3443. 2004. View Article : Google Scholar

36 

Quinn MA, Conaghan PG, O'Connor PJ, Karim Z, Greenstein A, Brown A, Brown C, Fraser A, Jarret S and Emery P: Very early treatment with infliximab in addition to methotrexate in early, poor-prognosis rheumatoid arthritis reduces magnetic resonance imaging evidence of synovitis and damage, with sustained benefit after infliximab withdrawal: Results from a twelve-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Arthritis Rheum. 52:27–35. 2005. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

37 

Westhovens R, Yocum D, Han J, Berman A, Strusberg I, Geusens P and Rahman MU: START Study Group: The safety of infliximab, combined with background treatments, among patients with rheumatoid arthritis and various comorbidities: A large, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Arthritis Rheum. 54:1075–1086. 2006. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

38 

Abe T, Takeuchi T, Miyasaka N, Hashimoto H, Kondo H, Ichikawa Y and Nagaya I: A multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial of infliximab combined with low dose methotrexate in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol. 33:37–44. 2006.PubMed/NCBI

39 

Schiff M, Keiserman M, Codding C, Songcharoen S, Berman A, Nayiager S, Saldate C, Li T, Aranda R, Becker JC, et al: Efficacy and safety of abatacept or infliximab vs placebo in ATTEST: A phase III, multi-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and an inadequate response to methotrexate. Ann Rheum Dis. 67:1096–1103. 2008. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

40 

Braun J, Brandt J, Listing J, Zink A, Alten R, Golder W, Gromnica-Ihle E, Kellner H, Krause A, Schneider M, et al: Treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis with infliximab: A randomised controlled multicentre trial. Lancet. 359:1187–1193. 2002. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

41 

van der Heijde D, Dijkmans B, Geusens P, Sieper J, DeWoody K, Williamson P and Braun J: Ankylosing Spondylitis Study for the Evaluation of Recombinant Infliximab Therapy Study Group: Efficacy and safety of infliximab in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: Results of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial (ASSERT). Arthritis Rheum. 52:582–591. 2005. View Article : Google Scholar

42 

Marzo-Ortega H, McGonagle D, Jarrett S, Haugeberg G, Hensor E, O'connor P, Tan AL, Conaghan PG, Greenstein A and Emery P: Infliximab in combination with methotrexate in active ankylosing spondylitis: A clinical and imaging study. Ann Rheum Dis. 64:1568–1575. 2005. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

43 

Inman RD and Maksymowych WP: CANDLE Study Group: Adouble-blind, placebo-controlled trial of low dose infliximab in ankylosing spondylitis. J Rheumatol. 37:1203–1210. 2010. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

44 

Van den Bosch F, Kruithof E, Baeten D, Herssens A, de Keyser F, Mielants H and Veys EM: Randomized double-blind comparison of chimeric monoclonal antibody to tumor necrosis factor alpha (infliximab) versus placebo in active spondylarthropathy. Arthritis Rheum. 46:755–765. 2002. View Article : Google Scholar

45 

Antoni C, Krueger GG, de Vlam K, Birbara C, Beutler A, Guzzo C, Zhou B, Dooley LT and Kavanaugh A: IMPACT 2 Trial Investigators: Infliximab improves signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis: Results of the IMPACT 2 trial. Ann Rheum Dis. 64:1150–1157. 2005. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

46 

Kavanaugh A, Krueger GG, Beutler A, Guzzo C, Zhou B, Dooley LT, Mease PJ, Gladman DD, de Vlam K, Geusens PP, et al: Infliximab maintains a high degree of clinical response in patients with active psoriatic arthritis through 1 year of treatment: Results from the IMPACT 2 trial. Ann Rheum Dis. 66:498–505. 2007. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

47 

Sieper J, Lenaerts J, Wollenhaupt J, Rudwaleit M, Mazurov VI, Myasoutova L, Park S, Song Y, Yao R, Chitkara D, et al: Efficacy and safety of infliximab plus naproxen vs. naproxen alone in patients with early, active axial spondyloarthritis: Results from the double-blind, placebo-controlled INFAST study, Part 1. Ann Rheum Dis. 73:101–107. 2014. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

48 

Algood HM, Lin PL and Flynn JL: Tumor necrosis factor and chemokine interactions in the formation and maintenance of granulomas in tuberculosis. Clin Infect Dis. 41(Suppl 3): S189–S193. 2005. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

49 

White DW and Harty JT: Perforin-deficient CD8+ T cells provide immunity to Listeria monocytogenes by a mechanism that is independent of CD95 and IFN-gamma but requires TNF-alpha. J Immunol. 160:898–905. 1998.PubMed/NCBI

50 

Zhou P, Miller G and Seder RA: Factors involved in regulating primary and secondary immunity to infection with Histoplasma capsulatum: TNF-alpha plays a critical role in maintaining secondary immunity in the absence of IFN-gamma. J Immunol. 160:1359–1368. 1998.PubMed/NCBI

51 

Roach DR, Bean AG, Demangel C, France MP, Briscoe H and Britton WJ: TNF regulates chemokine induction essential for cell recruitment, granuloma formation, and clearance of mycobacterial infection. J Immunol. 168:4620–4627. 2002. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

52 

Zumla A, George A, Sharma V, Herbert N and Baroness Masham: of Ilton: WHO's 2013 global report on tuberculosis: Successes, threats, and opportunities. Lancet. 382:1765–1767. 2013. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

Related Articles

Journal Cover

September-2016
Volume 12 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Wang Q, Wen Z and Cao Q: Risk of tuberculosis during infliximab therapy for inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and spondyloarthropathy: A meta-analysis. Exp Ther Med 12: 1693-1704, 2016
APA
Wang, Q., Wen, Z., & Cao, Q. (2016). Risk of tuberculosis during infliximab therapy for inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and spondyloarthropathy: A meta-analysis. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 12, 1693-1704. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2016.3548
MLA
Wang, Q., Wen, Z., Cao, Q."Risk of tuberculosis during infliximab therapy for inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and spondyloarthropathy: A meta-analysis". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 12.3 (2016): 1693-1704.
Chicago
Wang, Q., Wen, Z., Cao, Q."Risk of tuberculosis during infliximab therapy for inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and spondyloarthropathy: A meta-analysis". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 12, no. 3 (2016): 1693-1704. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2016.3548