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.
MeSH terms
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Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use*
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Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy*
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Bacterial Infections / microbiology
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Cystic Fibrosis / complications
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Cystic Fibrosis / drug therapy*
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Cystic Fibrosis / pathology
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Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / genetics
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Etanercept
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Female
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Humans
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Immunoglobulin G / therapeutic use*
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Lung Diseases / etiology
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Lung Diseases / genetics
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Lung Diseases / microbiology
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Neutrophils / drug effects
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Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / therapeutic use*
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Severity of Illness Index
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Sputum / drug effects
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Treatment Outcome
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Young Adult
Substances
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Antirheumatic Agents
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Immunoglobulin G
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Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
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Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator
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Etanercept