A Case of Atrial Fibrillation Induced by Infliximab in a Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis

ABSTRACT

Infliximab, a chimeric monoclonal immunoglobulin antibody to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha is widely used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The commonly reported cardiac side effects of infliximab include exacerbation of congestive heart failure, hypotension, and syncope. Cardiac arrhythmia and conduction disturbances have been reported only rarely in a few case reports and to the best of our knowledge, there are no previous reports on the occurrence of atrial fibrillation secondary to infliximab use in RA patients. Here, we report a case of acute atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response that occurred 24 hr after first dose of infliximab in a 55-year-old female patient with RA, who recovered to sinus rhythm after pharmacologic management.