Lupus-like syndrome attributable to anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha therapy in 14 patients during an 8-year period at Mayo Clinic.
OBJECTIVE
To examine clinical characteristics, laboratory features, and outcomes of patients with lupus-like syndrome attributable to anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) therapy.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective review of patients with lupus-like syndrome attributable to anti-TNF-alpha therapy at Mayo Clinic's site in Rochester, MN, between July 1, 2000, and June 30, 2008.


RESULTS
Of 14 patients (mean age at disease onset, 46.2 years), 12 (86%) were female. Ten patients (71%) had Crohn disease, and 4 (29%) had rheumatoid arthritis. Thirteen patients (93%) originally were treated with infliximab, and 1 (7%) was treated with adalimumab. A lupus-ike syndrome occurred after a mean treatment duration of 16.2 months. Features of lupus included presence of antinuclear antibodies (14 patients [100%]), arthritis (13 patients [93%]), anti-double-stranded-DNA antibodies (10 patients [71%]), cutaneous findings (malar rash, discoid rash, or photosensitivity, 4 patients [29%]), serositis (4 patients [29%]), hematologic abnormalities (4 patients [29%]), oral ulcers (4 patients [29%]), and lupus anticoagulant (1 patient [7%]). No patient had renal or neurologic abnormalities. All patients improved after stopping anti-TNF-alpha therapy (mean time to improvement, 2.9 months). Four (80%) of 5 patients tolerated an alternative TNF-alpha inhibitor (adalimumab, 3 patients; etanercept, 1 patient) without recurrence of lupus-like syndrome.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with previous studies, cutaneous findings were less frequent and arthritis was more frequent in our cohort of patients. Some patients were able to tolerate an alternative TNF-alpha inhibitor without recurrence of lupus-like syndrome.
Wetter
David A
DA
Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. wetter.david@mayo.edu
Davis
Mark D P
MD
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D017677:Age Distribution; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D000069285:Infliximab; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013577:Syndrome; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab