title: Interleukin 1β blockade improves signs and symptoms of chronic calcium pyrophosphate crystal arthritis resistant to treatment.
abstract: A 54-year-old woman with recurrent episodes of bilateral knee arthritis was admitted several times to the Department of Rheumatology. She was diagnosed to have chronic calcium pyrophosphate crystal arthritis. Interleukin 1β (IL-1β) plays a central role in the pathogenesis of inflammation induced by calcium pyrophosphate crystals, and IL-1β blockade may be an effective treatment in patients with severe chronic calcium pyrophosphate crystal arthritis. Because of the short effect of treatment with corticosteroids and the frequent attacks of arthritis, the patient was treated with the IL-1 receptor antagonist anakinra. She responded well after 1 week with normalization of inflammation. Eight months after the initiation of treatment, the patient has had no relapses, although we were unable to withdraw the anakinra.
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Hospital of Southern Norway, Kristiansand, Norway. andreas.diamantopoulos@sshf.no
authors: Andreas P
authors: AP
authors: Diamantopoulos
authors: Christer
authors: C
authors: Brodin
authors: Helene
authors: H
authors: Hetland
authors: Glenn
authors: G
authors: Haugeberg
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002131:Calcium Pyrophosphate; D002805:Chondrocalcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D007719:Knee Joint; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D002131:Calcium Pyrophosphate