Anti-TNF-α agents have emerged as a potent treatment for patients with rheumatoid arthritis unresponsive to conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Increased susceptibility to infections induced by these drugs is the main complication of their use. Reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the most worrisome side effects in patients with HBV infection receiving anti-TNF-α. We report the case of a 56-year-old male patient with stable hepatitis B and good response to the antiviral combination of lamivudine and tenofovir when infl iximab was started. The patient went into remission. During the 30-month treatment with the biologic, his liver function remained stable, with no HBV reactivation.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.