BACKGROUND: Neurological involvement in sarcoidosis is serious and often aggressive. Many patients respond to steroids but some show a progressive course despite treatment with steroids and even more potent immunosuppressive drugs. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe our experience in the treatment of refractory neurosarcoidosis with Infliximab--its effect on the course of the disease and side effects. METHODS: A series of four patients are reported with neurosarcoidosis refractory to treatment with steroids combined with various immunosuppressive drugs in whom Infliximab was used. RESULTS: A good response, with improvement or stabilisation of the neurological condition, was seen in all cases, without significant side effects. Infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that neutralises the biological activity of tumour necrosis factor alpha, a cytokine thought to play an important role in the pathophysiology of sarcoidosis. CONCLUSION: Our experience using Infliximab adds to the growing evidence that it may fulfil a useful role in cases of refractory neurosarcoidosis.
BACKGROUND: Neurological involvement in sarcoidosis is serious and often aggressive. Many patients respond to steroids but some show a progressive course despite treatment with steroids and even more potent immunosuppressive drugs. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe our experience in the treatment of refractory neurosarcoidosis with Infliximab--its effect on the course of the disease and side effects. METHODS: A series of four patients are reported with neurosarcoidosis refractory to treatment with steroids combined with various immunosuppressive drugs in whom Infliximab was used. RESULTS: A good response, with improvement or stabilisation of the neurological condition, was seen in all cases, without significant side effects. Infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that neutralises the biological activity of tumour necrosis factor alpha, a cytokine thought to play an important role in the pathophysiology of sarcoidosis. CONCLUSION: Our experience using Infliximab adds to the growing evidence that it may fulfil a useful role in cases of refractory neurosarcoidosis.
Authors: K O'Connell; L Williams; J Jones; D J H McCabe; D Murphy; R Killeen; N Tubridy; S O'Riordan; C McGuigan Journal: Ir J Med Sci Date: 2017-01-18 Impact factor: 1.568
Authors: Nadera J Sweiss; Karen Patterson; Ray Sawaqed; Umair Jabbar; Peter Korsten; Kyle Hogarth; Robert Wollman; Joe G N Garcia; Timothy B Niewold; Robert P Baughman Journal: Semin Respir Crit Care Med Date: 2010-07-27 Impact factor: 3.119