Infliximab is effective for Takayasu arteritis refractory to glucocorticoid and methotrexate.
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.
Tanaka
Fumiko
F
First Department of Internal Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Sakamoto.
Kawakami
Atsushi
A
Iwanaga
Nozomi
N
Tamai
Mami
M
Izumi
Yasumori
Y
Aratake
Kouichiro
K
Arima
Kazuhiko
K
Kamachi
Makoto
M
Nakamura
Hideki
H
Huang
Mingguo
M
Ida
Hiroaki
H
Origuchi
Tomoki
T
Eguchi
Katsumi
K
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
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D011239:Prednisolone; D000069285:Infliximab; D008727:Methotrexate