Treatment with etanercept in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease

We report a case of a 52-year-old woman with a 1-year history of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease referred to hospital because of aggravated pulmonary symptoms in spite of intensive treatment including prednisone, azathioprine and triptergium glycoside. We subsequently initiated treatment with 25 mg of etanercept, subcutaneously injected twice weekly. Following 6 months of therapy with this agent, sustained improvement in dyspnea, cough was reported by the patient and respiratory function test showed marked improvement. The improvement was confirmed by reduced middle and lower lung markings on chest radiography and high-resolution CT scan. This report suggests etanercept may be effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease.