Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Antagonists and Occurrence of Autoantibodies in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients: A Single Center Experience - Abstract
Background & Aims: Appearance of auto antibodies have been described
during anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha therapy; however, their prevalence and
clinical relevance are still unclear. We investigated prevalence of autoantibodies in
inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) patients on anti-TNF? treatment and occurrence of
clinical symptoms.
Methods: Titers of ANA, anti-dsDNA, SMA, AMA, LKM were evaluated from blood
samples in patients receiving anti-TNF? inhibitor (adalimumab, infliximab).
Results: Among 39 patients treated with anti-TNF? therapy, twenty of them
developed ANA, mostly induced by infliximab. 55% ANA positive patients developed
peripheral polyarthralgias with no need for intervention. No patients with positive
autoantibodies developed a drug-induced lupus. The incidence of dsDNA, SMA and
AMA was low and was not associated with autoimmune disease.
Conclusions: Immune response induced by anti-TNF? is restricted to ANA, with
lower prevalence of dsDNA antibodies, SMA and AMA. Further studies are needed to
clarify the role of autoantibodies during anti-TNF? therapy.