Anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha related autoimmune and inflammatory diseases
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Review

Anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha related autoimmune and inflammatory diseases

J Turk Soc Rheumatol 2012;4(1):17-23 DOI: 10.2399/raed.12.004
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Abstract

Anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNF-α) drugs are used as immunosuppressive agents in various medical conditions including chronic rheumatic diseases. With this increasing use and longer follow-up periods of treatment, some unwanted events are emerging. These events also include autoimmune processes, ranging from asymptomatic immunologic alterations to life-threatening systemic autoimmune diseases. Anti-TNF-α induced systemic autoimmune/inflammatory diseases appear to respond to withdrawal of the corresponding drugs in most cases, but some cases require systemic immunosuppressive therapy. This review will discuss autoimmune/inflammatory diseases developing after anti-TNF-α therapy.

Keywords: Anti-TNF alpha agents, autoimmunity, unwanted effect