Infliximab Therapy for Complicated Sarcoidosis
Authors: Terence M. O'Connor, Fergus Shanahan, Charles P. Bredin
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2002)

Letters20 August 2002Infliximab Therapy for Complicated SarcoidosisTerence M. O'Connor, MB, Fergus Shanahan, MD, and Charles P. Bredin, MBTerence M. O'Connor, MBSt. Vincent's University Hospital; Dublin 4, IrelandCork University Hospital; Wilton, Cork, IrelandSearch for more papers by this author, Fergus Shanahan, MDSt. Vincent's University Hospital; Dublin 4, IrelandCork University Hospital; Wilton, Cork, IrelandSearch for more papers by this author, and Charles P. Bredin, MBSt. Vincent's University Hospital; Dublin 4, IrelandCork University Hospital; Wilton, Cork, IrelandSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-137-4-200208200-00022 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:We read with interest Yee and Pochapin's report of treatment of complicated sarcoidosis with infliximab (1). The authors suggest that biological agents with specificity for TNF-α may represent a novel treatment for sarcoidosis. It is surprising, however, that the association of infliximab therapy with tuberculosis is not mentioned. Tuberculosis and sarcoidosis may present similarly, may be difficult to differentiate, and indeed may rarely coexist. Both diseases are characterized by granulomatous inflammation. However, while granulomas in sarcoidosis are central to its pathogenesis, granulomas in tuberculosis play a critical protective role. Macrophages are activated in the alveolar inflammation of ...References1. Yee AM, Pochapin MB. Treatment of complicated sarcoidosis with infliximab anti-tumor necrosis factor-α therapy. Ann Intern Med. 2001;135:27-31. [PMID: 11434729] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Law K, Weiden M, Harkin T, Tchou-Wong K, Chi C, Rom WN. Increased release of interleukin-1 β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α by bronchoalveolar cells lavaged from involved sites in pulmonary tuberculosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1996;153:799-804. [PMID: 8564135] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Saunders BM, Cooper AM. Restraining mycobacteria: role of granulomas in mycobacterial infections. Immunol Cell Biol. 2000;78:334-41. [PMID: 10947857] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Mohan VP, Scanga CA, Yu K, Scott HM, Tanaka KE, Tsang E, et al . Effects of tumor necrosis factor α on host immune response in chronic persistent tuberculosis: possible role for limiting pathology. Infect Immun. 2001;69:1847-55. [PMID: 11179363] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Terence M. O'Connor, MB; Fergus Shanahan, MD; Charles P. Bredin, MBAffiliations: St. Vincent's University Hospital; Dublin 4, IrelandCork University Hospital; Wilton, Cork, Ireland PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoTreatment of Complicated Sarcoidosis with Infliximab Anti–Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Therapy Arthur M.F. Yee and Mark B. Pochapin Infliximab Therapy for Complicated Sarcoidosis Arthur M.F. Yee and Mark B. Pochapin Infliximab Therapy for Complicated Sarcoidosis Matthew C. Cook Metrics Cited byEfficacy and Safety of TNF Antagonists in Sarcoidosis: Data from the Spanish Registry of Biologics BIOBADASER and a Systematic ReviewInfliximab et sarcoïdose chronique. L’expérience française à propos de 31 casOcular Manifestations of SarcoidosisColonic Sarcoidosis, Infliximab, and Tuberculosis: A Cautionary Tale 20 August 2002Volume 137, Issue 4 Page: 296-297 Keywords Crohn's disease Granulomas Inflammation Necrosis Pathogenesis Pulmonary diseases Sarcoidosis Signs and symptoms Specificity T cells ePublished: 20 August 2002 Issue Published: 20 August 2002 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2002 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...