Successful use of etanercept in the treatment of acute lupus hemophagocytic syndrome.

Hemophagocytic syndrome has been reported to be associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. A 25-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus developed hemophagocytic syndrome that was refractory to the combination therapy with high-dose corticosteroid, cyclosporine, and high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin, and successfully treated with the tumor necrosis factor inhibitor, etanercept. This case report provided the first observation that etanercept may be useful for the treatment of hemophagocytic syndrome associated with systemic lupus erythematosus refractory to conventional therapy.