[Anti-TNF: beneficial or hamful for the lung?].

The Tumor Necrosis Factor is a pro-inflammatory cytokine which plays a key role in the pathogenesis of many diseases. Therefore, the anti Tumor necrosis factors have been used for treating many inflammatory pathologies such as rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn's disease with success. However, the use of these drugs has revealed during the formal years many side effects dominated by the tuberculosis. Lung cancer and asthma might be other side effects of the drugs. More recently they have been used for other pulmonary indications such as sarcoidosis. Their benefits for treating asthma is being studied. Therefore, a wise use of these drugs is mandatory to benefit from good effects and avoid hamful ones.