Major surgery ‘safe’ for patients on biologics

Higher-dose corticosteroids, however, are associated with an increased risk of postoperative infection, researchers say
Clare Pain
Surgeons operating

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis on biologics or other modern therapies who need major surgery may not be at any higher risk than those on methotrexate, a US study shows.

But being on moderate or high doses of corticosteroids puts people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) needing surgery at higher risk of postoperative mortality or acute hospital readmission, the researchers say.