Development of sarcoidosis during etanercept therapy

Intern Med. 2008;47(11):1021-5. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.47.0602. Epub 2008 Jun 2.

Abstract

This report describes a 65-year-old woman who developed granulomatous lesions consistent with sarcoidosis during etanercept therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy and multiple nodules in both lung fields developed 21 months after administration of etanercept. Noncaseating epithelioid cell granulomas consistent with sarcoidosis were detected in a lung biopsy specimen and in the parietal pleura obtained via thoracotomy. Diseases showing similar histologic changes were excluded, and a diagnosis of sarcoidosis was made. Etanercept was discontinued, which resulted in symptomatic relief, improvement of oxygenation and radiologic findings. There is substantial evidence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha involvement in the induction and maintenance of granuloma formation; however, we should keep in mind that granulomatous disease, such as sarcoidosis, can develop during treatment with a tumor necrosis factor-alpha blocking agent, such as etanercept.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antirheumatic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy
  • Etanercept
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / adverse effects*
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / chemically induced*
  • Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis
  • Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / diagnostic imaging
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors

Substances

  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Etanercept