Viral Pneumonia as a Serious Complication of Etanercept Therapy
Authors: Davey Smith, Scott Letendre
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2002)

Letters15 January 2002Viral Pneumonia as a Serious Complication of Etanercept TherapyDavey Smith, MD and Scott Letendre, MDDavey Smith, MDUniversity of California, San Diego; San Diego, CA 92103 and Scott Letendre, MDUniversity of California, San Diego; San Diego, CA 92103Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-136-2-200201150-00020 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Levels of tumor necrosis factor are elevated in the synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Etanercept inhibits tumor necrosis factor and is an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (1, 2). Tumor necrosis factor is also integral to the immune response to many pathogens, including respiratory viruses (3). We report a case of severe parainfluenza pneumonia in a patient taking etanercept.A 54-year-old woman with severe rheumatoid arthritis presented with 10 days of dyspnea, pharyngitis, and headache. Examination revealed mild respiratory distress, fever (body temperature, 83 °C), and evidence of chronic rheumatoid arthritis and long-term steroid use. ...References1. Bathon JM, Martin RW, Fleischmann RM, Tesser JR, Schiff MH, Keystone EC, et al . A comparison of etanercept and methotrexate in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. N Engl J Med. 2000;343:1586-93. [PMID: 11096165] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Moreland LW, Schiff MH, Baumgartner SW, Tindall EA, Fleischmann RM, Bulpitt KJ, et al . Etanercept therapy in rheumatoid arthritis. A randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 1999;130:478-86. [PMID: 10075615] LinkGoogle Scholar3. Uhl EW, Moldawer LL, Busse WW, Jack TJ, Castleman WL. Increased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) gene expression in parainfluenza type 1 (Sendai) virus-induced bronchiolar fibrosis. Am J Pathol. 1998;152:513-22. [PMID: 9466578] MedlineGoogle Scholar4. Mease PJ, Goffe BS, Metz J, VanderStoep A, Finck B, Burge DJ. Etanercept in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis: a randomised trial. Lancet. 2000;356:385-90. [PMID: 10972371] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Weinblatt ME, Kremer JM, Bankhurst AD, Bulpitt KJ, Fleischmann RM, Fox RI, et al . A trial of etanercept, a recombinant tumor necrosis factor receptor:Fc fusion protein, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving methotrexate. N Engl J Med. 1999;340:253-9. [PMID: 9920948] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Davey Smith, MD; Scott Letendre, MDAffiliations: University of California, San Diego; San Diego, CA 92103 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoEtanercept Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis Larry W. Moreland , Michael H. Schiff , Scott W. Baumgartner , Elizabeth A. Tindall , Roy M. Fleischmann , Ken J. Bulpitt , Arthur L. Weaver , Edward C. Keystone , Daniel E. Furst , Philip J. Mease , Eric M. Ruderman , David A. Horwitz , Daniel G. Arkfeld , Leslie Garrison , Daniel J. Burge , Consuelo M. Blosch , Mary L.M. Lange , Neil D. McDonnell , and Michael E. Weinblatt Metrics Cited byEtanerceptChimeric Fusion Proteins Used for Therapy: Indications, Mechanisms, and SafetyTNF and TNF-receptors: From mediators of cell death and inflammation to therapeutic giants – past, present and futureRespiratory Infections in the Rheumatic Disease PatientMonitoring of Nonsteroidal Immunosuppressive Drugs in Patients With Lung Disease and Lung Transplant RecipientsSevere pneumonia by aciclovir-resistant varicella-zoster virus during etanercept therapyThe Risk of Infections with Biologic Therapies for Rheumatoid ArthritisTumor necrosis factor blockade and the risk of viral infectionCYTOKINES AND CYTOKINE MODULATORSGLUCOCORTICOIDS AND DISEASE – MODIFYING ANTIRHEUMATIC DRUGSNeumonía de evolución fatal en paciente con artritis reumatoide tratada con adalimumabFibrosis pulmonar mortal, con etanercept como posible desencadenanteEtanercept as a Possible Trigger of Fatal Pulmonary FibrosisSevere adenovirus pneumonia (AVP) following infliximab infusion for the treatment of Crohn's diseaseAdenoviral Pneumonia During Etanercept Treatment in a Patient with Rheumatoid ArthritisInfections related to TNF-α inhibitorsEtanerceptEtanerceptMycobacterium abscessus infection after use of tumor necrosis factor α inhibitor therapy: case report and review of infectious complications associated with tumor necrosis factor α inhibitor useA comprehensive review and evaluation of the side effects of the tumor necrosis factor alpha blockers etanercept, infliximab and adalimumabA Pilot Study of the Safety and Tolerability of Etanercept in Patients with Alcoholic HepatitisDrug-Induced Respiratory Disease in Connective Tissue DiseasesSafety of Tumour Necrosis Factor-?? AntagonistsInfection complications associated with the use of biologic agentsDrugs acting on the immune systemPharmacological approaches for the discovery and development of new anti-inflammatory agents for the treatment of cystic fibrosis 15 January 2002Volume 136, Issue 2Page: 174KeywordsBloodImmune responseRespiratory infectionsRheumatoid arthritisTemperatureThoraxTumor necrosis factorUpper respiratory tract infectionsVentilatorsViral pneumonia ePublished: 15 January 2002 Issue Published: 15 January 2002 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2002 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...