Treatment of refractory temporal arteritis with adalimumab

Clin Rheumatol. 2007 Aug;26(8):1353-5. doi: 10.1007/s10067-006-0375-2. Epub 2006 Aug 30.

Abstract

High-dose corticosteroids (CS) are the mainstay of treatment for temporal (giant cell) arteritis (TA). A usually required long-term treatment with CS, ranging from 1 to 5 years or more, frequently leads to serious side effects in about 60% of patients. There is no conclusive evidence about the role of immunosuppressive agents like methotrexate and azathioprine in the treatment of TA. There are few reports of treatment of refractory or steroid-dependent TA with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitors including infliximab and etanercept. TA is characterized by infiltration of the vessel wall by macrophages, giant cells, and T lymphocytes, with production of several cytokines responsible for the acute phase response. TNF-alpha has been demonstrated in up to 60% of the cells in all areas of inflamed arteries by immunohistochemical techniques; hence, it could play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of TA. We report the first case of resistant TA, which was treated successfully with adalimumab, a fully human recombinant IgG1, anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody. The efficacy of TNF-alpha inhibitors in resistant TA should be studied in larger, controlled studies.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adalimumab
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / adverse effects
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / pharmacology
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Drug Resistance
  • Female
  • Giant Cell Arteritis / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Adalimumab