[Risk of pneumonia during adalimumab therapy]
György Bernscherer1, Csaba Karabélyos2, Ágnes Kovácsné Dr Tóth3
11 Semmelweis Egyetem, Általános Orvostudományi Kar, Családorvosi Tanszék Budapest Magyarország.
Abstract:
Bridging steroid therapy given in addition to adalimumab-methotrexate dual therapy which was introduced for autoimmune diseases notably contributes to the increased risk of pneumonia. Authors review the international literature and evaluate the incidence of pneumonia caused by adalimumab monotherapy, adalimumab-methotrexate dual therapy, and adalimumab-methotrexate-steroid triple combination therapy, as well as steroid tapering protocols. They go into the importance of effective adalimumab levels recommended for each clinical picture and the measurement of anti-adalimumab antibodies, which is part of the precision medicine for autoimmune diseases. These laboratory tests help to identify the causes of steroid dependence and show the direction how to achieve a steroid-free status, thereby the risk of pneumonia in treated patients could be reduced. Orv Hetil. 2026; 167(12): 466-475.
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