Remicade: Adverse Reactions and Serious Side Effects

Remicade (infliximab) is prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Crohn's disease (CD).

Since it was approved by the FDA for use in 1998, there have been reports of adverse reactions and serious side effect in patients undergoing Remicade therapy.

The adverse event reports involving tuberculosis (TB) associated with Remicade tended to be unusual types of tuberculosis such as miliary tuberculosis, extrapulmonary tuberculosis, and disseminated tuberculosis. These types of tuberculosis affect parts of the body other than the lung, which is the most common target organ for tuberculosis (TB). It is believed that some of these adverse event reports involved latent tuberculosis where the Remicade patient developed tuberculosis through what is called reactivation disease.

Remicade has been associated with serious infections; it elevates the risk factor of patients on Remicade therapy for developing histoplasmosis and listeriosis. Both conditions can result in death.

There are adverse event reports of serious nervous system disorders, or demyelinating diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), seizures or convulsions, and inflammation of the eyes.

Several Remicade patients have died due to heart disease. The adverse event reports indicate that these cases often involved the worsening of congestive heart failure (CHF).

Lastly, there have been adverse event reports of aplastic anemia due to Remicade therapy.