title: Infliximab is effective for Takayasu arteritis refractory to glucocorticoid and methotrexate.
abstract: We have experienced a Takayasu arteritis (TA) patient, successfully treated with infliximab, who did not respond well to conventional therapy with glucocosteroid and methotrexate. Takayasu arteritis had developed in a 24-year-old woman (March 2003) who had been treated with glucocorticoid including methylprednisolone pulse therapy and methotrexate; however, she relapsed during the tapering of the dosage of oral prednisolone. Nineteen months after the first administration of glucocorticoid, 3 mg/kg of infliximab was introduced to the patient. The therapeutic efficacy of infliximab was markedly demonstrated; the patient's C-reactive protein (CRP) value returned to almost normal range with subsequent tapering of the dosage of oral prednisolone in the absence of further relapse. This is the first case presentation of TA in Japan successfully treated with infliximab.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Sakamoto.
authors.forename: Fumiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawakami
authors.forename: Nozomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iwanaga
authors.forename: Mami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tamai
authors.forename: Yasumori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Izumi
authors.forename: Kouichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aratake
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arima
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamachi
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Mingguo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ida
authors.forename: Tomoki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Origuchi
authors.forename: Katsumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eguchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069285:Infliximab; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D020551:Pulse Therapy, Drug; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D011239:Prednisolone; D000069285:Infliximab; D008727:Methotrexate