Abstract
Two patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that developed serious infectious complications following anti-TNFα therapy (infliximab) are reported. Patient 1 developed tuberculosis with high fever, refractory diarrhea and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Trans-bronchial needle biopsy was useful to confirm the diagnosis. Patient 2 showed sudden onset of dyspnea with diffuse bilateral lung infiltration caused by pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia and the diagnosis was confirmed by broncho-alveolar lavage. Physicians should be alerted to infectious complications with atypical presentation and rapid progression in infliximab-treated patients. Invasive diagnostic procedures including fiber-optic bronchoscopy may be necessary early in the course for such cases.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 685-688 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Internal Medicine |
Volume | 45 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 15-06-2006 |
Externally published | Yes |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Internal Medicine