Tumour necrosis factor inhibitor-associated sinusitis

To describe the features of chronic sinusitis associated with the use of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors.

A retrospective review of the medical records between 2003 and 2011 revealed that five patients had developed chronic sinusitis after the start of TNF inhibitor administration and required rhinological evaluation and treatment.

The incidence of refractory sinusitis associated with TNF inhibitors was approximately 2%. Of the five patients identified, four patients were medicated with etanercept and one with infliximab. The maxillary sinus was most commonly involved and cultures of the sinus discharge revealed Pseudomonas aeruginosa in three cases. Two patients showed improvement of sinusitis with antibiotic medication, despite the continuous use of TNF inhibitor, while in two other patients, sinusitis was resistant to antibiotic medication. Another patient who had developed recurrence of sinusitis after complete remission of previous chronic sinusitis by endoscopic sinus surgery showed remission only after cessation of TNF inhibitor.

Chronic sinusitis associated with TNF inhibitors is considered to be a new disease entity, and it will become more common due to the increasing use of TNF inhibitors.