C Pritchard1, K Nadarajah. 1. Rheumatology Specialty Center, 2400 Maryland Road, Suite 40, Willow Grove, PA 19090, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To study the effectiveness of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) inhibitor treatment for sarcoidosis refractory to conventional treatments. METHODS: Five patients (two men, three women) were treated with infliximab. All patients received a loading dose of 3 mg/kg at 0, 2, and 6 weeks and then maintenance infusions every 4-8 weeks. Patients had their dose increased or the dosing interval reduced when the disease relapsed. These patients had active disease despite treatment with corticosteroids and other immunomodulatory agents. All patients had a negative tuberculin skin test. RESULTS: Sarcoidosis in all patients improved significantly without any serious adverse reactions. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that TNFalpha is effective in patients for whom conventional treatment fails.
OBJECTIVE: To study the effectiveness of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) inhibitor treatment for sarcoidosis refractory to conventional treatments. METHODS: Five patients (two men, three women) were treated with infliximab. All patients received a loading dose of 3 mg/kg at 0, 2, and 6 weeks and then maintenance infusions every 4-8 weeks. Patients had their dose increased or the dosing interval reduced when the disease relapsed. These patients had active disease despite treatment with corticosteroids and other immunomodulatory agents. All patients had a negative tuberculin skin test. RESULTS:Sarcoidosis in all patients improved significantly without any serious adverse reactions. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that TNFalpha is effective in patients for whom conventional treatment fails.