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Interferon-alpha-associated sarcoidosis responsive to infliximab therapy
Yamini Menon1, Elena Cucurull, Efrain Reisin
1Section of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans 70112, USA.
The American Journal of the Medical Sciences
|September 16, 2004
Summary
Hepatitis C treatment with interferon-alpha can trigger sarcoidosis, a multisystem inflammatory disease. Infliximab effectively treated a patient
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Hepatology
- Nephrology
Background:
- Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease characterized by noncaseating granulomas.
- Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy for hepatitis C is associated with sarcoidosis development.
- IFN-alpha stimulates Th1 immune responses, implicated in granuloma formation.
Observation:
- A patient on IFN-alpha therapy presented with hypercalcemia and renal insufficiency due to sarcoidosis.
- Initial prednisone treatment for hypercalcemia was discontinued due to increased hepatitis C viral load.
- Infliximab, an anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha antibody, was administered.
Findings:
- Infliximab treatment led to a rapid normalization of serum calcium levels within 7 days.
- Serum calcium levels remained normal for 3 months post-treatment.
- This suggests infliximab's efficacy in managing sarcoidosis-associated hypercalcemia.
Implications:
- Infliximab may be a viable therapeutic option for sarcoidosis-induced hypercalcemia, especially when corticosteroids are contraindicated.
- Further research is warranted to explore infliximab's role in managing sarcoidosis complications.
- This case highlights the importance of monitoring for sarcoidosis in patients undergoing IFN-alpha therapy.