Ömer Karadağ, Timuçin Kaşifoğlu, Birol Özer, Sabahattin Kaymakoğlu, Yeşim Kuş, Murat İnanç, Gökhan Keser, Sedat Kiraz
Biological drugs (tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, rituximab, tocilizumab, abatacept, and tofacitinib) are important treatment alternatives in rheumatology, particularly for resistant patients. However, they may cause hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) reactivation; for instance, HBV reactivation may occur in a patient who is an inactive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carrier or who has resolved HBV infection. Therefore, the screening of patients before biological treatment and the application of a prophylactic treatment, particularly with respect to latent HBV infections, are recommended when necessary...
March 2016: European Journal of Rheumatology