Infliximab can induce a prolonged clinical remission and a decrease in thyroid hormonal requirements in a patient with SAPHO syndrome and hypothyroidism

• Published in: Clinical rheumatology 2008-04, Vol.27 (4), p.533-535
• Main Authors: Sabugo, Francisca, Liberman, Claudio, Niedmann, Juan Pablo, Soto, Lilian, Cuchacovich, Miguel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired Hyperostosis Syndrome - drug therapy; Adult; Antibodies, Monoclonal - therapeutic use; Antirheumatic Agents - therapeutic use; Case Report; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Hypothyroidism; Hypothyroidism - drug therapy; Infliximab; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Remission Induction; Rheumatology; Skeletal system; Thyroid gland; Thyroxine - therapeutic use; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - antagonists & inhibitors
• ISSN: 0770-3198; 1434-9949
• DOI: 10.1007/s10067-007-0767-y

SAPHO syndrome is a rare entity that compromises the skeletal system (arthritis–osteitis) and is associated with various dermatological conditions such as palmoplantaris pustulosis (PPP) and acne. We present the case of a 39-year-old man with invalidating arthritis derived from a SAPHO syndrome and hypothyroidism (after radioiodine treatment for a Graves’ disease). Due to the severity and refractoriness of his disease, we decided to use infliximab. He showed a prompt and prolonged response of his joint and cutaneous manifestations after three doses of a tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) blocker. Interestingly, he also decreased his levothyroxine requirements after TNF-α blockade therapy.