Visceral leishmaniasis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis treated with methotrexate

Jesús Loarce-Martos1, Sandra Garrote-Corral1, Francesca Gioia2

  • 1Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, España.

Reumatologia Clinica
|September 30, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients face infectious complications, often due to immunosuppressive drugs. Leishmania infections are rare in RA patients, particularly those not on biological therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease.
  • Immunosuppressive medications are commonly used to manage RA, increasing infection risk.
  • Opportunistic infections are a significant concern in RA patients.

Observation:

  • The spectrum of opportunistic infections in RA patients is broad.
  • Leishmania infection is a rare complication in this population.
  • This rarity is particularly noted in patients not receiving biological drugs.

Findings:

  • A review of RA complications highlights infectious etiologies.
  • Leishmania infections represent a small fraction of opportunistic infections in RA.
  • The incidence of Leishmania is notably low in RA patients not on biologic agents.

Implications:

  • Understanding infection risks is crucial for RA management.
  • Leishmania should be considered in the differential diagnosis of infections in RA patients, albeit rarely.
  • Further research may explore specific risk factors or protective mechanisms against Leishmania in RA.

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