Background:Biological therapies have significantly improved the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). These molecules are very effective, but are known for their specific risks, especially infectious. It depends on several factors including the type of molecule used.Objectives:The objective of our study is to compare the rate of infection in RA patients treated with rituximab and anti-TNFα.Methods:Prospective, observational, monocentric study. Were included RA patients (ACR / EULAR 2010 criteria) treated with rituximab and anti-TNFα (adalimumab, infliximab and Etanercept) after inadequate response to DMARDs.Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, association with methotrexate and corticosteroids were collected and compared for each group.The number, type and severity of the infections in both cases were noted.SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) was used for data analysis.Results:40 RA patients treated with rituximab and 31 patients who received anti-TNFα were included.Patient characteristics and Comparison of rate of infection in RA patients between the two groups are summarized in Table 1Table 1.ParametersRituximabAnti-TNFαpNumber of patients4031Average age (years)56,2846,060,01Sexratio0,140,110,7Average duration of evolution (years)15,8313,740,3Patients under corticosteroid (%)97,587,10,08Average corticosteroid dose6,415,480,3patients under methotrexate (%)37,545,20,5Diabetes (%)2016,10,7Patients with infection (%)32,551,60,1Number of infections18240,4Number of serious infections500,04Conclusion:The rate of infections in patients with RA treated with rituximab or anti-TNF was similar. However, the infections observed were more serious in patients with RA treated with rituximabReferences:[1]Fabiola Atzeni MD PhD and al. Infections and Biological Therapy in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases. IMAJ . VOL 18. march-APRIL 2016.[2]Huifeng Yun and al. Comparative Risk of Hospitalized Infection Associated with Biologic Agents in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Enrolled in Medicare. ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY. Vol. 68, No. 1, January 2016, pp 56–66.[3]Manjari Lahiri and al. Risk of infection with biologic antirheumatic therapies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology (2015) 1-16.Disclosure of Interests:None declared
