[Peripheral neuropathy during Infliximab therapy: a case study].

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Neurology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha therapies are widely used for inflammatory conditions.
• Peripheral neuropathies are a known, albeit uncommon, side effect of these treatments.
• Hemorrhagic rectocolitis is a severe inflammatory bowel disease often requiring advanced therapies.

Observation:

• A 60-year-old female patient with therapy-resistant hemorrhagic rectocolitis was initiated on Infliximab.
• Three months post-treatment initiation, the patient developed sensory axonal neuropathy.
• Comprehensive etiological assessments for the neuropathy yielded negative results.

Findings:

• The temporal relationship between Infliximab initiation and neuropathy onset suggests a causal link.
• Reduction in Infliximab dosage led to a notable improvement in the patient's neurological symptoms.
• This case highlights Infliximab as a potential cause of sensory neuropathy.

Implications:

• The findings suggest Infliximab may induce sensory neuropathy in susceptible individuals.
• Management strategies for Infliximab-induced neuropathy require individualized approaches.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms and standardize treatment for this adverse event.