Herpes simplex encephalitis during treatment with tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors.

Bradford, Russell D; Pettit, April C; Wright, Patty W; Mulligan, Mark J; Moreland, Larry W; McLain, David A; Gnann, John W; Bloch, Karen C · Clin Infect Dis · 2009

case_series · Level IV

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Abstract

We report 3 cases of herpes simplex virus encephalitis in patients receiving tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitors for rheumatologic disorders. Although TNF-alpha inhibitors have been reported to increase the risk of other infectious diseases, to our knowledge, an association between anti-TNF-alpha drugs and herpes simplex virus encephalitis has not been previously described.

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