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Drugs to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other autoimmune diseases have been linked to tuberculosis (TB) cases in California, U.S. health officials said. Twelve Californians who had taken the anti-inflammatory drugs Remicade (infliximab) or Enbrel (etanercept) tested positive for TB between January 2002 and August 2003, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Two of those infected died after undergoing treatment for TB. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said that TB infection is a potential side effect for people who take Remicade, Enbrel or Humira, another inflammation-blocking drug. Yet these popular treatments for RA are commonly promoted as being free from major side effects. These drugs will do nothing to solve the underlying cause of the condition. I have treated over 3,000 patients with RA, using a variety of natural therapies to help the person's body resolve the infection, and most have done quite well.
Yahoo News August 5, 2004