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Improvements in Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease and Airway Inflammation Associated with Etanercept Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case Report

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Abstract

Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung pathology is characterized by excessive neutrophilic inflammation and high tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels. A cornerstone of CF management is reduction of the inflammatory burden in the lung. We present the case of a 19-year-old CF patient who demonstrated significant clinical improvement in her lung disease associated with a reduction in sputum percent neutrophils, following commencement of etanercept (TNF-α antagonist) for rheumatoid arthritis. She has not had any infectious complications or other significant adverse effects during 2 years of treatment. It may be time to reconsider TNF-α antagonists as potential anti-inflammatory agents for CF lung disease.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are extremely grateful to Mr. Peter Dash for his assistance in processing sputum samples for cell counts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Lvl 9, Mater Adult Hospital, Raymond Tce, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia

    S. Visser, M. Martin & D. J. Serisier

  2. Mater Health Services, University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    D. J. Serisier

  3. Mater Medical Research Institute, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    D. J. Serisier

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  1. S. Visser
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  2. M. Martin
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  3. D. J. Serisier
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Correspondence to S. Visser.

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Visser, S., Martin, M. & Serisier, D.J. Improvements in Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease and Airway Inflammation Associated with Etanercept Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case Report. Lung 190, 579–581 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-012-9393-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-012-9393-9

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