Infliximab side effects Remicade
Infliximab is a pharmaceutical drug used to treat auto-immune disorders. Infliximab reduces the amount of active tumor necrosis factor alpha in the body by binding to it and preventing it from signaling the receptors for TNF alpha on the surface of cells. TNF alpha is one of the major cytokines that triggers and sustains the inflammation response. Infliximab was developed by Centocor, a pharmaceutical company owned by Johnson & Johnson.
Infliximab for rheumatoid
arthritis
Infliximab is used with methotrexate and is initially administered intravenously
at weeks 0, 2, and 6. Maintenance doses are then given every 8 weeks. For more
information on
rheumatoid arthritis.
Infliximab side effects
Mild infusion reactions include
headache and nausea; severe infliximab side
effects include chest pain, shortness of breath, hypotension, and
urticaria or
other evidence of an immediate hypersensitivity reaction.
Infliximab for ankylosing
spondylitis
Treatment with Infliximab in a patient with
ankylosing
spondylitis and Crohn's disease.
J Gastrointestin Liver Dis. 2006 Dec;15(4):379-82. Department of
Rheumatology, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Str.
Clinicilor 2-4, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
The association of Crohn's disease and ankylosing spondylitis is described in up
to 30% of cases. We present the case of a 53 year old woman, diagnosed with
colonic Crohn's disease and ankylosing spondilitis, treated initially with
increasing doses of sulphasalazine and moderate dose of corticosteroids, with
the persistence of severe gastrointestinal and articular symptoms. She underwent
therapy with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) inhibitor Infliximab, with a
spectacular improvement of symptoms, signs and quality of life.
Infliximab for psoriasis
Infliximab has shown promising results for the treatment of severe
psoriasis and may be
considered in patients who are unresponsive to conventional systemic and
biologic therapy. Infliximab may help patients with psoriasis previously treated
with etanercept, but the majority of patients require infusions every 6 weeks to
maintain their continued response. In addition, the use of infliximab is
associated with increased incidence of adverse events.