Elsevier

Respiratory Medicine

Volume 103, Issue 2, February 2009, Pages 268-273
Respiratory Medicine

Infliximab therapy rescues cyclophosphamide failure in severe central nervous system sarcoidosis

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2008.08.016Get rights and content
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Summary

Central nervous system involvement is a severe manifestation of sarcoidosis that often requires aggressive immunosuppressive therapy. The most efficacious approach for refractory disease is unknown.

We reviewed the cases of four subjects who demonstrated active progression of neurosarcoidosis while under treatment with cyclophosphamide, and who were subsequently treated with infliximab.

All four subjects demonstrated rapid and substantial reversal of their clinical course. Radiologic findings were concordant with the clinical responses. There were no notable toxicities.

Treatment with infliximab may be more effective than cyclophosphamide for refractory central nervous system sarcoidosis. A larger, prospective study is warranted.

Keywords

Sarcoidosis
Neurosarcoidosis
Tumor necrosis factor
Infliximab
Cyclophosphamide
Central nervous system

Abbreviations

Azathioprine
AZA
Central nervous system
CNS
Corticosteroids
CS
Magnetic resonance imaging
MRI
Methotrexate
MTX
Tumor necrosis factor α
TNF-α

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