title: Anti-TNF alpha medications and neuropathy.
abstract: We studied the clinical, electrophysiological, and pathological features, outcome, and frequency of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (a-TNF) medications-induced neuropathies (ATIN) in patients with inflammatory disorders. Of 2,017 patients treated with a-TNF medication, 12 patients met our inclusion criteria for a prevalence of 0.60% and an incidence of 0.4 cases per 1,000 person-years. The median time from a-TNF medication treatment to ATIN was 16.8 months (range 2-60 months). Six patients had focal or multifocal peripheral neuropathies. The other six had generalized neuropathies. For all, a-TNF medication was stopped. Seven patients received immunoglobulin infusions. ATIN outcome was favorable in all but one patient. ATINs are rare and heterogeneous neuropathies. In 10 patients, the neuropathy was "inflammatory", suggesting that it could be due to systemic pro-inflammatory effects of a-TNF agents.
authors: Nerve-Muscle Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors: Pinelopi
authors: P
authors: Tsouni
authors: Nerve-Muscle Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: Bill
authors: Division of Neurology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University Hospital of Geneva (HUG), Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: André
authors: A
authors: Truffert
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors: Christelle
authors: C
authors: Liaudat
authors: Nerve-Muscle Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors: François
authors: F
authors: Ochsner
authors: Nerve-Muscle Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland.|Department of Neurology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.
authors: Andreas J
authors: AJ
authors: Steck
authors: Nerve-Muscle Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors: Thierry
authors: T
authors: Kuntzer
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D004568:Electrodiagnosis; D000068800:Etanercept / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068879:Adalimumab; D000068800:Etanercept
keywords: anti-TNF alpha; demyelination; inflammation; neuropathies