Successful treatment of a patient with refractory adult Still's disease by tacrolimus

Mod Rheumatol. 2007;17(2):167-70. doi: 10.1007/s10165-006-0559-2. Epub 2007 Apr 20.

Abstract

Adult Still's disease (ASD) is a systemic rheumatic disease characterized by high spiking fever, erythema, polyarthritis, and increased levels of C-reactive protein, ferritin, and interleukin (IL)-18. Recently, biological agents targeting proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, IL-1, and IL-6 have been described as effective treatments for refractory ASD. Herein, we present a patient with ASD, who was successfully treated by tacrolimus concomitant with corticosteroid, while infliximab and etanercept were not effective. Tacrolimus may be one of the drugs for the ASD patients refractory to the conventional treatments including TNF inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use
  • C-Reactive Protein / analysis
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Still's Disease, Adult-Onset / drug therapy*
  • Tacrolimus / therapeutic use*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / blood

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • Tacrolimus