Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 29, 2026

Artificial Antigen Presenting Cell (aAPC) Mediated Activation and Expansion of Natural Killer T Cells
Published on: December 29, 2012
Aplastic anemia following administration of a tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitor
John Kuruvilla1, Heather A Leitch, Linda M Vickars
1Division of Hematology, St Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Abstract:
Upregulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis. Therapeutic agents such as antibodies or soluble TNF-alpha receptor analogs, which block TNF-alpha activity are a recent addition to the therapeutic armamentarium for the conditions. We describe a patient who developed aplastic anemia complicated by sepsis after receiving etanercept, a TNF-alpha receptor analog, for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Pancytopenia resolved within 3 wk of discontinuing etanercept. To our knowledge, this is the first report of aplastic anemia associated with TNF-alpha blockade.
Related Concept Videos
Bone Marrow Sampling and Transplants
The transplant begins with high doses of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, which aim to destroy the...
Tumor Immunotherapy
