title: A case of bilateral rheumatoid pleuritis successfully treated with tocilizumab.
abstract: The patient was a 77-year-old woman diagnosed as having rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 1973. She was initiated on infliximab therapy in addition to methotrexate administration in 2009. The therapeutic response decreased after the fifth dose of infliximab, and the patient developed rheumatoid pleuritis due to increased RA disease activity. The therapy was switched from infliximab to tocilizumab, which resulted in amelioration of the arthralgias well as pleuritis. Our results suggest that tocilizumab is an effective treatment alternative for the treatment of rheumatoid pleuritis.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Orthopedics and Rheumatology, Isesaki Fukushima Hospital , Otemachi, Isesakishi, Gumma , Japan , Kiryu-shi, Gumma , Japan.
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohtsuka
authors.forename: Kimihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsushita
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aramaki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010998:Pleurisy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; C502936:tocilizumab
keywords: Bilateral pleural effusion; Extra-articular manifestations; Rheumatoid arthritis; Rheumatoid pleuritis; Tocilizumab