Combination therapy with cyclosporine A and anti-TNF-alpha agents in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and concomitant hepatitis C virus infection.
We describe two cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and concomitant hepatitis C virus infection (HCV), treated with cyclosporine A (CsA) and anti-TNF-alpha agents. SGOT/SGPT and HCV-RNA serum levels remained unchanged longer than 1 year of treatment. No side effects were registered. We suggest that combination therapy with CsA and TNF-alpha blockers should be considered safe and well-tolerated in the treatment of HCV-positive RA patients.
Bellisai
Francesca
F
Dipartimento Medicina Clinica e Scienze Immunologiche, Policlinico Le Scotte, U.O.C. Reumatologia, Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy. francescabellisai@yahoo.it
Giannitti
Chiara
C
Donvito
Alessandro
A
Galeazzi
Mauro
M
D000068879:Adalimumab; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D000068800:Etanercept; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016572:Cyclosporine; D000068879:Adalimumab; D000068800:Etanercept