Digital vasculitis: a late complication of anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha therapy.
Anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha therapy has led to significant advancement in the treatment of rheumatological disease. Rarely, anti-TNFalpha antagonists have been associated with vasculitis, predominantly cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis. We present the first case of angiographically-confirmed digital vasculitis occurring as a late complication of etanercept therapy. Our case adds to the limited repertoire of case reports of anti-TNFalpha induced vasculitis and highlights the potential risk of this serious complication occurring up to several years after initiation of these agents.
Mangat
Pamela
P
Rheumatology Department, Royal Adelaide Hospital, North Terrace, Adelaide, Australia. pm897@hotmail.com
Whittle
Samuel
S
Cleland
Les
L
Limaye
Vidya
V
D000792:Angiography; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000068800:Etanercept; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000473:pathology; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D017535:Ulnar Artery / Q000473:pathology; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000068800:Etanercept