1.Laboratory Monitoring of Biological Therapies in Rheumatology: The Role of Immunogenicity
Maurizio BENUCCI ; Valentina GROSSI ; Mariangela MANFREDI ; Arianna DAMIANI ; Maria INFANTINO ; Paolo MOSCATO ; Luigi CINQUANTA ; Elisa GREMESE ; Barbara TOLUSSO ; Luca PETRICCA ; Anna Laura FEDELE ; Stefano ALIVERNINI ; Fabiola ATZENI ; Giovanni MINISOLA ; Roberto VERNA
Annals of Laboratory Medicine 2020;40(2):101-113
Biological drugs, such as proteins and immunogens, are increasingly used to treat various diseases, including tumors and autoimmune diseases, and biological molecules have almost completely replaced synthetic drugs in rheumatology. Although biological treatments such as anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) drugs seem to be quite safe, they cause some undesirable effects, such as the onset of infections due to weakening of the immune system. Given the biological nature of these drugs, they might be recognized as extraneous; this would induce an immune reaction that neutralizes their effectiveness or lead to more serious consequences. Laboratories play a pivotal role in appropriate therapeutic management. The aim of this review was to underline the production of anti-drug antibodies during treatment with biological drugs and highlight the role of laboratories in ensuring appropriate use of these drugs.
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