Recurrent allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis treated with etanercept and tocilizumab

Mod Rheumatol. 2011 Dec;21(6):660-4. doi: 10.1007/s10165-011-0449-0. Epub 2011 Apr 7.

Abstract

We report the case of a 68-year-old woman with Stage III and Class II rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that was resistant to prednisolone, methotrexate, and infliximab. After treatment with etanercept or tocilizumab, suspicious allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) repeatedly occurred and then rapidly improved after the withdrawal of each drug. We suspect that administration of etanercept and tocilizumab caused suspicious ABPA in this patient. The relevance to the pathogenesis of ABPA under these biological drugs is also discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / adverse effects*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use
  • Antirheumatic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy
  • Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary / chemically induced*
  • Etanercept
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / adverse effects*
  • Immunoglobulin G / therapeutic use
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / therapeutic use
  • Recurrence

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • tocilizumab
  • Etanercept