Objective: Mosquito-borne alphaviruses such as chikungunya virus, o'nyong-nyong virus, and Ross River virus (RRV) cause sporadic, sometimes large, outbreaks of rheumatic disease worldwide. This study was designed to test the effect of treating RRV-induced arthritis using the anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drug etanercept in a mouse model of rheumatic disease.
Methods: Mice were infected with RRV and treated with etanercept. Weight gain was measured, tissue viral titers were determined, and histologic changes in muscle and joint tissues were assessed.
Results: RRV-infected mice treated with etanercept showed decreased weight gain, higher viral titers in muscle, joints, and blood, and more tissue damage and inflammatory cell recruitment than RRV-infected mice without treatment.
Conclusion: Anti-TNF therapy is unlikely to be useful in treating alphaviral arthritides. During alphaviral epidemics, careful monitoring of patients being treated with anti-TNF agents may be warranted.
Copyright © 2011 by the American College of Rheumatology.