Chronic myeloid leukaemia and tuberculosis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis treated with infliximab

• Published in: Annals of the rheumatic diseases 2005-03, Vol.64 (3), p.509-510
• Main Authors: Broussais, F, Kawashima, M, Marotte, H, Miossec, P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies, Monoclonal - adverse effects; Antirheumatic Agents - adverse effects; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - drug therapy; Bacterial diseases; Biological and medical sciences; Defects; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Inflammatory joint diseases; Infliximab; Letter; leukaemia; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive - etiology; Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Patients; Rheumatoid arthritis; Th1 cytokines; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis and atypical mycobacterial infections; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - etiology; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF
• ISSN: 0003-4967; 1468-2060
• DOI: 10.1136/ard.2004.021378

Because of persistent active disease and high erythrocyte sedimentation rate (44 mm/1st h) with high platelet count at 0.6x1012/l, infliximab was combined with MTX (15 mg/week) in August 2001 at 3 mg/kg every 8 weeks. 3 It should be noted that at that time TB prophylaxis before starting anti-TNFα treatment was not yet organised as it is today. A four drug regimen was initiated for 2 months, followed by isoniazide and rifampicin for 4 months. Because of persistent anorexia and depression, IFNα treatment was replaced by STI 571 at 600 mg/day.