PMID- 11354550
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20010920
LR  - 20161021
IS  - 1124-0490 (Print)
IS  - 1124-0490 (Linking)
VI  - 18
IP  - 1
DP  - 2001 Mar
TI  - Infliximab for refractory sarcoidosis.
PG  - 70-4
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIM OF WORK: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) appears to be 
      an important cytokine in the inflammation of sarcoidosis. Infliximab is a 
      chimeric monoclonal antibody which specifically inhibits TNF-alpha. We 
      investigated the efficacy of infliximab for the therapy of chronic, resistant 
      sarcoidosis. METHODS: Patients with persistent symptomatic sarcoidosis despite 
      corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents were selected for treatment with 
      infliximab. Patients were treated initially and at 2, 4, and 12 weeks with 5 
      mg/kg of infliximab at each treatment. Index lesions, which had progressed 
      despite corticosteroid therapy, were reevaluated at 16 weeks. RESULTS: Three 
      patients were treated. In two patients, the index lesion was lupus pernio, which 
      significantly improved with infliximab. The third patient had restrictive lung 
      disease. At week 16, there was a 26% improvement in the vital capacity from 
      pretreatment values. All patients tolerated the treatments well. CONCLUSIONS: 
      Infliximab was associated with significant improvement in chronic sarcoidosis.
FAU - Baughman, R P
AU  - Baughman RP
AD  - Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, OH, 
      USA. bob.baughman@uc.edu
FAU - Lower, E E
AU  - Lower EE
LA  - eng
PT  - Clinical Trial
PT  - Journal Article
PL  - Italy
TA  - Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis
JT  - Sarcoidosis, vasculitis, and diffuse lung diseases : official journal of WASOG
JID - 9610928
RN  - 0 (Antibodies, Monoclonal)
RN  - B72HH48FLU (Infliximab)
SB  - IM
EIN - Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis 2001 Oct;18(3):310
MH  - Antibodies, Monoclonal/*pharmacology
MH  - Chronic Disease
MH  - Drug Resistance
MH  - Female
MH  - Humans
MH  - Infliximab
MH  - Male
MH  - Middle Aged
MH  - Recurrence
MH  - Respiratory Function Tests
MH  - Sarcoidosis/*drug therapy/pathology
MH  - Treatment Outcome
EDAT- 2001/05/17 10:00
MHDA- 2001/09/21 10:01
CRDT- 2001/05/17 10:00
PHST- 2001/05/17 10:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2001/09/21 10:01 [medline]
PHST- 2001/05/17 10:00 [entrez]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis. 2001 Mar;18(1):70-4.