Conference paper

Immunosupression and viral infections in rheumatic diseases

Adriana Vince ; Clinic for Infectious Diseases, Zagreb, Croatia
Davorka Dušek ; Clinic for Infectious Diseases, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Infections are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with rheumatic disea­ses. Although bacterial pathogens are the most common cause of infections, a wide variety of viral pathogens can also cause serious clinical manifestations mostly due to immunosupressive therapy primarily targeting cellular immunitiy (steroids, cyclosporins, cyclophosphamid, leflunomid, TNF-alfa antagonists etc.). Depleted cellular immunity can lead to reactivation of latent viruses such as members of Herpesvirus family, or hepatitis B and C viruses. Symptoms of viral infection may mimic exacerbation of rheumatic disease. In this paper authors present the main clinical characte­ristics, diagnostics and tretment possibilities for most common viral infections in immunosupressed host with a rheumatic disease.

Keywords

immunosupression; viruses; Herpesviruses; hepatitis B; rheumatic disease

Hrčak ID:

125349

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/125349

Publication date:

19.10.2007.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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