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Sarcoid-like granulomatosis in patients treated with anti-TNFα
Petrovici A. , Kaiser M.J. , Louis R. , Nguyen Dang D.
Rev Med Liege 2016, 71(3),124-128Abstract : Over recent years, anti-TNFα have been used to treat rheumatoïd arthritis. The principal secondary effect of anti-TNFα is tuberculosis infections. Another paradoxical effect, previously less well understood, is the development of sarcoid-like granulomatous reactions. We report the case of a 36 year old woman who had been treated for 9 years with anti-TNF alpha. She developed a pulmonary sarcoid-like granulomatosis, complication that is rare but not exceptional in patients treated with TNF-blockers. Discontinuation of anti TNF usually led to recovery. It has been suggested that these reactions mainly occur with etanercept, but this requires further confirmation.