Preventing TB in patients with Crohn's disease needing infliximab or other anti-TNF therapy

Abstract

In patients with Crohn's disease, the increased risk of active tuberculosis (TB) associated with infliximab makes it necessary to screen for active and latent TB before this or other anti-tumour necrosis factor treatment is begun. This paper outlines how such screening should be undertaken, and how to decide which patients need antituberculous treatment or chemoprophylaxis before infliximab.