What are the effects and side effects of infliximab?

Infliximab (Infliximab) is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that exerts a highly selective inhibitory effect on human tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). TNF-α is a key causative factor in a variety of inflammatory diseases, and its overactivity can lead to tissue inflammation and destruction. By binding and neutralizing TNF-α, infliximab effectively inhibits the inflammatory response, alleviates the condition, and improves patients' quality of life.

Clinically, infliximab has shown significant efficacy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease (including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis). Not only does it relieve pain and joint swelling, it also prevents further damage to the joint structure. In addition, some studies have shown that it has an obvious effect on improving plaques in patients with skin psoriasis and has a rapid onset of action, making it suitable for use by moderate to severe patients.

Despite its outstanding efficacy, the side effects of infliximab need to be taken seriously. Common side effects include infusion-related reactions such as fever, chills, rash, and allergic symptoms, which often occur during or shortly after the drug is infused. Patients may also be at increased risk of infection during use, especially tuberculosis and respiratory infections, so tuberculosis screening and monitoring for signs of infection are required before use. In addition, some patients may develop liver function abnormalities, hematological abnormalities, or rare immune-mediated diseases. In view of these potential risks, the use of infliximab should be carried out under the guidance of professional doctors, and the efficacy and safety should be strictly monitored. In particular, patients with a history of infection or low immune function need to be carefully evaluated.

In summary, infliximab, as a matureTNF-α inhibitor, plays an important role in a variety of autoimmune diseases. Its inclusion in medical insurance has greatly lowered the treatment threshold, but clinical use still needs to balance efficacy and safety. Individualized treatment and dynamic monitoring are the keys to ensuring patient benefit.

Reference materials:https://www.drugs.com/infliximab.html