Improvements in cystic fibrosis lung disease and airway inflammation associated with etanercept therapy for rheumatoid arthritis: a case report.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung pathology is characterized by excessive neutrophilic inflammation and high tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels. A cornerstone of CF management is reduction of the inflammatory burden in the lung. We present the case of a 19-year-old CF patient who demonstrated significant clinical improvement in her lung disease associated with a reduction in sputum percent neutrophils, following commencement of etanercept (TNF-α antagonist) for rheumatoid arthritis. She has not had any infectious complications or other significant adverse effects during 2 years of treatment. It may be time to reconsider TNF-α antagonists as potential anti-inflammatory agents for CF lung disease.
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Lvl 9, Mater Adult Hospital, Raymond Tce, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia. simone.visser@uqconnect.edu.au
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Visser
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Martin
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Serisier
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / Q000235:genetics; D000068800:Etanercept; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013183:Sputum / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator; D000068800:Etanercept