Exacerbation of interstitial lung disease during etanercept therapy: Two cases.

We report two cases of interstitial lung disease possibly related to TNF alpha antagonist therapy (etanercept) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In both cases, pre-existing interstitial lung disease worsened during etanercept therapy. We found 19 previously published cases of interstitial lung disease in patients who were taking TNF alpha antagonists and had no evidence of infection, raising the possibility of a causal link with the medication.

Effects of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy on lipid profile in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Analyse the effects of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy on serum levels of lipid in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Twenty-nine patients (26 females, 3 males) with established RA undergoing anti-TNF therapy (n=12, adalimumab; n=11, infliximab; n=6, etanercept) were recruited. Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), and apolipoproteins (apo b and apo a) were assessed at baseline and after 14 weeks of treatment.

Cat scratch disease during etanercept therapy.

Lymphadenopathy in a patient taking TNFalpha antagonist therapy may indicate lymph node tuberculosis or a hematological malignancy. Although histological evidence of granuloma suggests tuberculosis, many other infections responsible for granulomatous reactions have been reported in patients on TNFalpha antagonist therapy. We report a case of granulomatous lymphadenopathy due to Bartonella henselae in a patient taking etanercept to treat ankylosing spondylitis.