Infliximab is a monoclonal antibody to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). A patient treated with infliximab may be at increased risk for cutaneous or visceral leishmaniasis.
Risk for leishmaniasis:
(1) A person living or traveling to a region endemic for visceral or cutaneous leishmaniasis.
(2) A person with a history of visceral or cutaneous leishmaniasis.
(3) The presence of other factors impairing host defenses (immunosuppression, malnutrition, etc).
A patient at risk should be monitored for leishmaniasis. PCR-RFLP analysis can help make the diagnosis in biopsy specimens.
If leishmaniasis occurs then:
(1) therapy with anti-leishmanial drugs may allow continued infliximab therapy
(2) infliximab therapy may need to be stopped if all else fails.
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
