In this article, we will discuss Belimumab and Serious Infections. So, let’s get started.
Belimumab and Serious Infections
Serious and sometimes fatal infections have been reported in patients receiving
immunosuppressive agents, including Belimumab. Physicians should exercise caution when considering the use of Belimumab in patients with chronic infections. Patients receiving any therapy for chronic infection should not begin therapy with Belimumab. Consider interrupting Belimumab therapy in patients who develop a new infection while undergoing treatment with
Belimumab and monitor these patients closely. In the controlled clinical trials, the overall incidence of infections was 71% in patients treated with Belimumab compared with 67% in patients who received placebo. The most frequent infections (>5% of patients receiving Belimumab) were upper respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection, nasopharyngitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, and influenza. Serious infections occurred in 6.0% of patients treated with Belimumab and in 5.2% of patients who received placebo. The most frequent serious infections included pneumonia, urinary tract infection, cellulitis, and bronchitis. Infections leading to discontinuation of treatment occurred in 0.7% of patients receiving Belimumab and 1.0% of patients receiving placebo. Infections resulting in death occurred in 0.3% (4/1458) of patients treated with Belimumab and in 0.1% (1/675) of
patients receiving placebo.