[A refractory case of adult-onset Still's disease]

Nihon Rinsho Meneki Gakkai Kaishi. 1997 Jun;20(3):191-8. doi: 10.2177/jsci.20.191.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

We report here a case of adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD), who finally responded to a combination of cyclophosphamide (CPA) and gold sodium thiomalate (GST) after two years of active disease. A 23-year-old man having continuous high fever with skin rash, polyarthralgia and increased serum ferritin, was diagnosed as AOSD, and oral corticosteroid was initially effective. His symptoms recurred one year later without clinical improvement to increased dosage of steroid. He was admitted to our hospital with pericarditis and pleural effusion but did not respond to either intravenous (i.v.) pulse steroid therapy, methotrexate (MTX) or high dose i.v. gamma-globulin. He was partly responsive to monthly i.v. injection of CPA, but clinical symptoms did not completely subside and hyperferritinemia persisted. GST, initiated in combination with CPA, however, was successful to induce complete remission. MTX has recently been reported to be efficacious to steroid-resistant AOSD, but CPA and gold compounds might be useful to refractory case of AOSD.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple
  • Gold Sodium Thiomalate / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Still's Disease, Adult-Onset / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Gold Sodium Thiomalate
  • Cyclophosphamide