Skin testing and infliximab-specific antibodies detection as a combined strategy for preventing infusion reaction.

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) have become among the most common causes of iatrogenic illness for morbidity and mortality. During the past decade, many new biological agents became available in new therapeutic practices, including cytokines, monoclonal antibodies and fusion proteins. Infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody against TNF-α largely used for the treatment of chronic immuno-mediated diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, or psoriasis. Infusion reactions have been reported and related to the infliximab immunogenicity and the development of specific IgG and non-IgG antibodies.