[Systemic candidiasis and infliximab therapy].

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Gastroenterology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
• Infliximab is an effective biologic therapy for refractory CD.
• Concomitant use of immunosuppressants is common in CD management.

Observation:

• A patient with refractory Crohn's disease was treated with infliximab, corticosteroids, and azathioprine.
• The patient developed systemic candidiasis, a serious fungal infection.
• While infliximab's overall infection risk is not elevated, anecdotal reports of fungal infections exist.

Findings:

• This case highlights a potential association between infliximab therapy and systemic fungal infections.
• The combination of infliximab with corticosteroids and azathioprine may enhance this risk.
• Further investigation is warranted to understand this potential complication.

Implications:

• Clinicians should be vigilant for systemic fungal infections in Crohn's disease patients on infliximab, especially with combination immunosuppressive therapy.
• This case contributes to the understanding of rare but serious adverse events associated with biologic therapies.
• Monitoring and early detection of fungal infections are crucial for patient safety in advanced Crohn's disease management.