title: Systemic autoimmune disease in asbestosis rapidly responding to anti-interleukin-1beta antibody canakinumab: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asbestosis is characterized by lung and pleural fibrosis and by immune system dysregulation, with autoantibody production and systemic immune-mediated disease. No specific therapies are available for asbestosis. Recently, the pivotal pathogenic role exerted by interleukin-1beta has been recently reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  We treated with anti-interleukin 1 beta targeted antibody canakinumab a 67 year old man with asbestosis and long lasting systemic autoimmune features. A dramatic improvement in clinical manifestations was observed at 1 week after the first injection, with complete clinical remission at 4 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case suggests new perspectives for the treatment of asbestosis and its systemic features.
authors.affiliation: Consultant in Rheumatology, Rheumatology Division, Hospital of Prato, Prato, Italy. lniccoli64@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Niccoli
authors.affiliation: Consultant in Rheumatology, Rheumatology Division, Hospital of Prato, Prato, Italy. emanuele.cassar@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cassarà
authors.affiliation: Consultant in Rheumatology, Rheumatology Division, Hospital of Prato, Prato, Italy. olgakaloudi@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kaloudi
authors.affiliation: Consultant in Rheumatology, Rheumatology Division, Hospital of Prato, Prato, Italy. nannini.car@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Carlotta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nannini
authors.affiliation: Consultant in Pneumology, Pneumologie et Addictologie CHU Arnaud de Villeneuve 191, Av. du Doyen Gaston Giraud, 34295, Montpellier, France. m.romagnoli@ausl.fo.it.
authors.forename: Micaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
authors.affiliation: Consultant in Rheumatology, Rheumatology Division, Hospital of Prato, Prato, Italy. fbrzcantini@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cantini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D012074:Remission Induction; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C541220:canakinumab