Infection risk in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with biologic and targeted therapies

Abstract Biologic therapies have greatly improved the outcome of chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients with RA are at an increased risk of infections, which may be attributed to either the pathological mechanisms of RA itself or treatment‐related immunosuppression. Due to the rapidly evolving research and development of biologics, more therapeutic options for patients with RA are available than ever before. The particular immune targets, such as cell surface molecules, receptors and intracellular signalling pathways, lead to a diversity of infections. In this context, infections associated with each biologic and targeted drug are summarized to inform the stratification of patients, including the characteristics of the susceptible patients and these patients' concomitant therapies. We aim to provide a benefit‐risk analysis for clinical decisions, and vital indications for the prevention of highly correlated infections when RA patients are treated with biologic and targeted therapies.