Abstract
BACKGROUND: Neurological involvement in sarcoidosis is serious and often aggressive. Many patients respond to steroids but some show a progressive course despite treatment with steroids and even more potent immunosuppressive drugs.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe our experience in the treatment of refractory neurosarcoidosis with Infliximab--its effect on the course of the disease and side effects.
METHODS: A series of four patients are reported with neurosarcoidosis refractory to treatment with steroids combined with various immunosuppressive drugs in whom Infliximab was used.
RESULTS: A good response, with improvement or stabilisation of the neurological condition, was seen in all cases, without significant side effects. Infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that neutralises the biological activity of tumour necrosis factor alpha, a cytokine thought to play an important role in the pathophysiology of sarcoidosis.
CONCLUSION: Our experience using Infliximab adds to the growing evidence that it may fulfil a useful role in cases of refractory neurosarcoidosis.
Translated title of the contribution | Treatment of refractory neurosarcoidosis with Infliximab |
---|---|
Original language | English |
Pages (from-to) | 241 - 246 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry |
Volume | 81(3) |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Mar 2010 |