Risk of tuberculosis in patients treated with biological medicines.

OBJECTIVE: The number of medicines used for biological therapy is constantly increasing. Biologic medicines selectively block the immunological processes leading to autoimmune manifestations with tissue damage or block the progression of haemato-oncological or other malignancies. Biological medicines are usually monoclonal antibodies or inhibitors of certain cytokines, cell receptors and enzymes. Their administration results in immunosuppression associated with increased risk of infectious complications, including tuberculosis. Assessment of the risk of tuberculosis associated with biological medicines is an important part of the medical decision done by pneumologist. We describe the risks of different biologicals and suggest the possible necessary steps in evaluating the risk of tuberculosis in individual patient (Ref. 18).