Pneumocystis Pneumonia Associated with Infliximab in Japan

Abstract
Infliximab, a monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), is used in Japan for the treatment of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis that is resistant to methotrexate.1 Methotrexate is used only for patients who do not have a response to or cannot tolerate other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, such as sulfasalazine. Infliximab is not used as primary therapy for rheumatoid arthritis in Japan.