Optic neuropathy in refractory neurosarcoidosis treated with TNF-alpha antagonist.
METHODS
To report a rare case of optic neuropathy in refractory neurosarcoidosis treated with tumour necrosis factor-alpha antagonist (infliximab) perfusion. A 41-year-old man with diabetes presented with an abrupt, painless, unilateral visual loss. Thoracic computed tomography disclosed mediastinal lymphadenopathy, and evidence from histopathology confirmed sarcoidosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Corticosteroids alone and with immunosuppressive agents failed to suppress the active disease. Alternative therapy of infliximab perfusions resulted in disease remission and relative visual improvement, and this treatment may warrant further clinical studies.
Salama
Batoul
B
Fédération Inter-Hospitalière Pico-Charentaise d'Opthalmologie, Poitiers University Hospital, France.
Gicquel
Jean-Jacques
JJ
Lenoble
Patrice
P
Dighiero
Paul Louis
PL
D000328:Adult; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab