Development of Takayasu Arteritis Despite Existing Treatement of Etanercept and Questionable Paradoxical Effect: Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

Although glucocorticoids are the standard treatment in patients with Takayasu arteritis, significant data suggest that etanercept, as well as other anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF) agents, are effective in refractory cases. We report what we believe to be the first case in literature in which a patient who was on active treatment of etanercept for psoriatic arthritis, developed Takayasu arteritis. Although this case report is not intended to conflict with the previous data that support the beneficial role of ant-TNF agents in the treatment of Takayasu arteritis, it does show that a certain patient might still develop Takayasu arteritis despite being on active treatment of etanercept. We also cannot conclude from this case that Takayasu arteritis was triggered by etanercept. However, such a possibility remains in question.




J Med Cases. 2010;1(1):37-38
doi: https://doi.org/10.4021/jmc2w