Autoimmunity associated with anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha treatment in Crohn's disease: a prospective cohort study.

Background & Aims: Infliximab therapy is an effective approach to treating Crohn's disease. Development of antinuclear antibodies has been described in patients treated, but the size of the problem and the relationship with autoimmunity have not been investigated. We investigated the occurrence of antinuclear antibodies in 125 consecutive Crohn's disease patients and studied the relationship with symptoms of autoimmunity.