A journal article in Clinical Rheumatology describes a case where a woman with "severe spondylarthropathy secondary to ulcerative colitis" developed symptoms consistent with Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) after her third infliximab (Remicade) infusion.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Guillain-Barre syndrome is "a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. The first symptoms of this disorder include varying degrees of weakness or tingling sensations in the legs. In many instances, the weakness and abnormal sensations spread to the arms and upper body. These symptoms can increase in intensity until the muscles cannot be used at all and the patient is almost totally paralyzed. In these cases, the disorder is life-threatening and is considered a medical emergency."

Although the patient in question initially had "significant improvement in her arthritis and was in remission for her ulcerative colitis" after beginning infliximab, she began having paresthesia, or tingling sensation in her hands and lower limbs. After treatment for Guillain-Barre and stopping the infliximab treatment, the symptoms of Guillain-Barre subsided. The author's of the article state, "The development of GBS in our patient may be secondary to her anti-TNF-a treatment."

To read the article's abstract, click here.

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