title: Idiopathic recurrent pericarditis treated successfully with tumour necrosis factor alpha blocking agents (anti-TNF-α).
abstract: Idiopathic recurrent pericarditis (IRP) is defined by 2 or more episodes of acute pericarditis of unknown etiology. Either auto-immune or auto-inflammatory diseases are suspected. Usually, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, colchicine or low dose steroid treatments are effective, however, side effects and/or non-response patients are frequent. We report on three paediatric patients with IRP from our paediatric rheumatology unit. The patients were non-responders to standard therapy and were treated with tumour necrosis factor alpha blocking agents (anti-TNF-α) and showed significant improvement. In two patients, the treatment was tapered and then stopped following several years of therapy. Symptoms flared in the last patient when therapy was tapered more quickly. We conclude that anti-TNF-α can be useful in selected cases of IRP.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Department, H.G.U.Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain. juanky846@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Nieto González
authors.forename: Indalecio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Monteagudo Saez
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: López-Longo
authors.forename: Belén
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mata Martínez
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carreño Pérez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha