title: Infliximab-induced hepatitis: absence of cross-toxicity with etanercept.
abstract: We describe a patient presenting with acute hepatitis while receiving infliximab for ankylosing spondylitis. A slight increase in serum aminotransferases was first observed in this patient after 4 infusions of infliximab. The treatment was stopped after the 6th infusion when laboratory work-up revealed a 10-fold increase in serum levels of aminotransferases. A liver biopsy showed interportovenular bridging necrosis with macrophage accumulation consistent with the diagnosis of acute toxic hepatitis. After infliximab discontinuation, hepatic abnormalities resolved and the patient was treated with etanercept for more than 2 years without recurrence of hepatitis. This case underlines the lack of hepatic cross-toxicity between infliximab and etanercept making possible the continuation of anti-TNF-alpha therapy with etanercept in patients who have presented infliximab-related hepatic dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Reims University Hospital, Reims, France. gthiefin@chu-reims.fr
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thiéfin
authors.forename: Aude
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morelet
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heurgué
authors.forename: Marie-Daniele
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Diebold
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Eschard
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000068800:Etanercept