Beigel F, Schnitzler F, Paul Laubender R et al. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2011;17:91–8.
The development of autoantibodies and a lupus-like syndrome (LLS) has been documented in IBD patients treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor agents; however, the clinical relevance of autoantibody formation is somewhat unclear. These authors assessed 180 IBD patients treated with infliximab, adalimumab, or both, for the presence of antinuclear antibodies and double-stranded DNA antibodies. They also attempted to identify predictive factors for autoantibody formation and development of LLS.
Anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy is associated with the formation of antinuclear antibodies (ANA), double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibody formation, and the occurrence of a lupus-like syndrome (LLS). LLS typically presents with arthralgias, myalgias, fever, rash, and serositis following the use of drugs that can induce the syndrome. Symptoms typically resolve upon drug discontinuation. In this study, severe LLS included severe arthralgias or frank arthritis, and/or additional LLS symptoms that necessitated the use of corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressive therapy.