Revista médica de Chile
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Revista médica de Chile · Aug 2020
Review[Risk of infections associated with the use of biological medications; a review].
Biological medications are effective for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases. The aim of this review is to summarize the available evidence in systematic reviews or meta-analyses about the risk of infection in patients with cancer, arthritis, psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease who use biological medications. We included systematic reviews or meta-analyses of controlled clinical trials and case/control studies that analyze infections during and after treatment with FDA-approved biological medications for the treatment of cancer, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis, both in adults and children. ⋯ In inflammatory bowel disease there is a risk for opportunistic infections. In conclusion, in patients with cancer and inflammatory diseases use biological medications entails a risk of infection. The evidence is different depending on the underlying disease of each patient.