Review article: the effects of antitumour necrosis factor-α on bone metabolism in inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of osteoporosis. A number of studies have emerged in recent years indicating that tumour necrosis factor (TNF) blockade appears to have a beneficial effect on bone mineral density (BMD) in IBD patients. AIMS: To provide a review of the available data regarding the effect of the currently licensed anti-TNF-α therapies on bone metabolism and BMD in IBD patients. METHODS: A Medline search was performed using the search terms 'infliximab', 'bone metabolism', 'IBD', 'BMD', 'bone markers', 'adalimumab', 'bone disease', 'Crohn's disease' and 'ulcerative colitis'. RESULTS: Infliximab has a beneficial effect on bone turnover markers in Crohn's disease (CD) patients in the short term. The longest study to date comprising 24 CD patients showed an overall improvement in two bone formation markers - b-alkaline phosphatase (P = 0.022) and osteocalcin (P = 0.008) at 4 months post-treatment. Moreover, the largest study to date comprising 71 CD patients showed significant improvement in sCTx, a bone resorption marker (P = 0.04) at week-8 post-treatment. There is little data looking at the effect of anti-TNF-α therapy on bone metabolism in ulcerative colitis. Moreover, the long-term effects of anti-TNF-α therapy on bone structure and fracture risk in IBD patients are currently not known. The effect of cessation of anti-TNF-α therapy on bone metabolism is also unknown. CONCLUSION: Properly controlled long-term trials are needed to fully evaluate the impact of TNF blockade on bone mineral density.

Early diagnosis of bilateral sub-deltoid bursitis using clinic-based ultrasonography in a patient receiving infliximab therapy for ulcerative pouchitis.

BACKGROUND: Infliximab, a monoclonal chimeric antibody to tumour necrosis factor (TNF)α, is a novel therapy used in the management of chronic refractory pouchitis that is unresponsive to conventional medical therapy. METHODS: This report describes a case of non-infective bursitis following infliximab therapy and documents the role of musculoskeletal ultrasound in detecting soft tissue fluid collections and in guiding aspiration. CONCLUSION: A high index of suspicion is required when assessing new or worsening musculoskeletal pain in patients receiving infliximab and involvement of a rheumatologist at an early stage is essential in order to appropriately diagnose and manage this condition.