MAY 2004 QUIZ OF THE MONTH . . .
Infliximab (Flix), a monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) is being used extensively in the treatment of pronounced Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, attention has been directed to possible adverse reactions to Flix treatment.
Which of the statements about Flix listed below is most appropriate?
- There is an increased incidence of pulmonary infections including reactivation of tuberculosis in Flix treated patients
- Because Flix is a humanized monoclonal antibody, serum sickness reactions do not occur following Flix injection
- Repeated doses of Flix are usually not effective because of the rapid clearing of subsequently injected Flix doses due to host immune responses induced by the first Flix treatment
- Acute adverse reactions during the infusion of Flix are generally prevented by pre-treatment of the patients with corticosteroids.
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