Improvements in Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease and Airway Inflammation Associated with Etanercept Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case Report

• Published in: Lung 2012-10, Vol.190 (5), p.579-581
• Main Authors: Visser, S., Martin, M., Serisier, D. J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-inflammatory drugs; Antirheumatic agents; Antirheumatic Agents - therapeutic use; Arthritis; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - drug therapy; Bacterial Infections - microbiology; Care and treatment; Cystic fibrosis; Cystic Fibrosis - complications; Cystic Fibrosis - drug therapy; Cystic Fibrosis - pathology; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator - genetics; Etanercept; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin G - therapeutic use; Inflammation; Lung Diseases - etiology; Lung Diseases - genetics; Lung Diseases - microbiology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neutrophils - drug effects; Pneumology/Respiratory System; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor - therapeutic use; Rheumatoid factor; Severity of Illness Index; Sputum - drug effects; Treatment Outcome; Tumor necrosis factor; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0341-2040; 1432-1750
• DOI: 10.1007/s00408-012-9393-9

Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung pathology is characterized by excessive neutrophilic inflammation and high tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels. A cornerstone of CF management is reduction of the inflammatory burden in the lung. We present the case of a 19-year-old CF patient who demonstrated significant clinical improvement in her lung disease associated with a reduction in sputum percent neutrophils, following commencement of etanercept (TNF-α antagonist) for rheumatoid arthritis. She has not had any infectious complications or other significant adverse effects during 2 years of treatment. It may be time to reconsider TNF-α antagonists as potential anti-inflammatory agents for CF lung disease.