Tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors and granulomatous infectious

Inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) have transformed the treatment of several chronic inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and Crohn's disease. Although these biological therapies are generally well tolerated, they pose a potential risk of serious infections, including granulomatous intracellular pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Histoplasma capsulatum. The basis of this increased risk and measures to prevent and treat these infections will be reviewed.

Section editors:David Scott – University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USATerry L. Delovitch – The John P. Robarts Research Institute, London, Canada