Infliximab Therapy for Complicated Sarcoidosis
Authors: Arthur M.F. Yee, Mark B. Pochapin
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2002)

Letters20 August 2002Infliximab Therapy for Complicated SarcoidosisArthur M.F. Yee, MD, PhD and Mark B. Pochapin, MDArthur M.F. Yee, MD, PhDWeill Medical College, Cornell University; New York, NY 10021Search for more papers by this author and Mark B. Pochapin, MDWeill Medical College, Cornell University; New York, NY 10021Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-137-4-200208200-00023 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:We thank Dr. Cook and Dr. O'Connor and his colleagues for their interest in our article. Their comments underscore the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges associated with atypical presentations of granulomatous diseases. Dr. Cook insightfully points out that the granulomatous variant of common variable immunodeficiency can be confused for sarcoidosis. Although not presented in our article, immunofixation electrophoresis of our patient's serum in fact demonstrated polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia, and while serum IgG and IgM levels were not quantitatively assessed, serum IgA levels (determined in anticipation of possible intravenous gammaglobulin therapy for the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome) were normal. These data are ...References1. Marino MW, Dunn A, Grail D, Inglese M, Noguchi Y, Richards E, et al . Characterization of tumor necrosis factor-deficient mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1997;94:8093-8. [PMID: 9223320] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Senaldi G, Yin S, Shaklee CL, Piguet PF, Mak TW, Ulich TR. Corynebacterium parvum- and Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin-induced granuloma formation is inhibited in TNF receptor I (TNF-RI) knockout mice and by treatment with soluble TNF-RI. J Immunol. 1996;157:5022-6. [PMID: 8943410] MedlineGoogle Scholar3. Smith KJ, Skelton H. Common variable immunodeficiency treated with a recombinant human IgG, tumour necrosis factor-α receptor fusion protein. Br J Dermatol. 2001;144:597-600. [PMID: 11260023] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Baughman RP, Lower EE. Infliximab for refractory sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis. 2001;18:70-4. [PMID: 11354550] MedlineGoogle Scholar5. Gershon S, Wise R, Niu M, Siegel J. Postlicensure reports of infection during use of etanercept and infliximab [Abstract]. Philadelphia: American College of Rheumatology 64th Annual Scientific Meeting; 30 October 2000. Abstract no. LB-1. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Weill Medical College, Cornell University; New York, NY 10021 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 Matthew C. Cook Infliximab Therapy for Complicated Sarcoidosis Terence M. O'Connor , Fergus Shanahan , and Charles P. Bredin Metrics Cited ByInfliximab Treatment of Sarcoidosis 20 August 2002Volume 137, Issue 4Page: 297KeywordsBacterial diseasesGranulomasHypergammaglobulinemiaImmunodeficienciesMycobacteriaPathogenesisPneumocystis carinii pneumoniaSarcoidosisTuberculosisTumor necrosis factor ePublished: 20 August 2002 Issue Published: 20 August 2002 CopyrightCopyright © 2002 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...