Formation of antinuclear and double strand DNA antibodies and frequency of lupus-like syndrome in anti-TNF-alpha antibody-treated patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Aims: Anti-TNF therapy used in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been associated with induction of autoantibodies including antinuclear antibodies (ANA), double strand (ds) DNA antibodies and the occurrence of lupus-like syndrome (LLS). However, the clinical relevance of autoantibody-formation and predictive factors are unclear. Methods: One hundred and eighty IBD patients treated with anti-TNF antibodies (infliximab or adalimumab, or infliximab and adalimumab consecutively) were analyzed regarding ANA and dsDNA antibody values and the development of LLS, including factors predicting the develop…