[Listeria meningitis in a patient with Crohn's disease--a seldom, but clinically relevant adverse event of therapy with infliximab].

A 42-year-old man with steroid-dependent Crohn's disease developed fever, vomiting and headache after the second administration of infliximab. Extensive microbiological and biochemical work-up revealed an atypical meningitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes. After antibiotic therapy of 21 days duration, the patient could be discharged from hospital totally recovered without any further complications. As previously demonstrated, TNF-alpha plays an important role in resistance to Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria infections have been reported in 26 patients receiving TNF-alpha inhibitors. An additional therapy with other immunosuppressants increases the risk for Listeria infections. Listeria meningitis is a seldom adverse event of therapy with TNF-alpha inhibitors but is associated with a high lethality. Therefore patients should be informed about the possible adverse event of a Listeria infection during anti-TNF-alpha therapy before receiving immunosuppressive treatment. Furthermore, therapy with TNF-alpha inhibitors should only be executed within a close doctor-patient relationship and in cooperation with specialised centres.