Pulmonary complications of infliximab therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Andrew J K Ostör; Edwin R Chilvers; Margaret F Somerville; Anita Y N Lim; Suzanne E Lane; Adrian J Crisp; David G I Scott

Pulmonary complications of infliximab therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

J Rheumatol. 2006 Mar;33(3):622-8.

Authors

Andrew J K Ostör¹, Edwin R Chilvers, Margaret F Somerville, Anita Y N Lim, Suzanne E Lane, Adrian J Crisp, David G I Scott

Affiliation

¹ Rheumatology Department, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK. andrew.ostor@addenbrookes.nhs.uk

PMID: 16511933

Abstract

We describe 5 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who developed pulmonary complications following infliximab therapy; 4 patients had preexisting usual interstitial pneumonia. As the pathophysiology of the pulmonary insult is unknown, we advise caution in the use of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha therapy in patients with RA with underlying lung disease of sufficient severity to withhold methotrexate treatment.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Aged
Antibodies, Monoclonal / adverse effects*
Antirheumatic Agents / adverse effects*
Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy*
Arthritis, Rheumatoid / pathology
Fatal Outcome
Female
Humans
Infliximab
Lung Diseases, Interstitial / etiology*
Lung Diseases, Interstitial / pathology
Male
Middle Aged
Radiography, Thoracic
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

Antibodies, Monoclonal
Antirheumatic Agents
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Infliximab