Utilización y farmacovigilancia de inmunoglobulina G endovenosa en un hospital pediátrico de alta complejidad / Intravenous immunoglobulin G use and pharmacovigilance in a tertiary care children's hospital

Introducción. La inmunoglobulina G endovenosa (IGEV) es un medicamento hemoderivado de inmunoglobulina G polivalente y policlonal. Posee un amplio espectro de indicaciones como inmunomodulador o como terapia de reemplazo. Asimismo, si bien se considera un tratamiento seguro, la incidencia de reacciones adversas reportadas en la literatura varía del 1 % al 81 %. Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo evaluar la utilización de IGEV y describir los acontecimientos adversos por la medicación en un hospital pediátrico de alta complejidad.Población y métodos. Se realizó un estudio de farmacoepidemiología, observacional y prospectivo. Se evaluaron pacientes que recibieron IGEV durante 7 meses, en 6 áreas de un hospital pediátrico de alta complejidad de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. La unidad de análisis fue cada infusión de IGEV, y la principal variable de estudio fue la presencia de reacciones adversas.Resultados. Se analizaron 305 infusiones en 111 pacientes. El 81,6 % de las indicaciones fueron de tipo supletorio. La dosis máxima utilizada fue 1 g/kg. En el 99,6 % de las infusiones, se indicó algún tipo de premedicación; la difenhidramina fue la droga más utilizada, aunque con diferentes posologías. Se registraron 12 reacciones adversas (el 3,9 % de las infusiones), tres de las cuales se consideraron graves: dos meningitis asépticas y una crisis comicial. Todas se resolvieron ad integrum.Conclusiones. La tasa de reacciones adversas de la IGEV en nuestro medio fue baja, con mayoría de reacciones leves e inmediatas y evolución favorable en todos los pacientes.

Introduction. Intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIG) is a blood product from polyvalent and polyclonal immunoglobulin G. It covers a broad range of indications as immunomodulator or replacement therapy. In addition, although it is considered a safe therapy, the incidence of adverse reactions reported in the bibliography ranges from 1 % to 81 %. The objective of this study was to assess IVIG use and describe related adverse events in a tertiary care children's hospital.Population and methods. This was a pharmacoepidemiological, observational, and prospective study. Patients receiving IVIG for 7 months in 6 areas of a tertiary care children's hospital in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires were assessed. The analysis unit was each IVIG infusion, and the main variable was the presence of adverse reactions.Results. A total of 305 infusions in 111 patients were analyzed. In 81.6 % of cases, the indication was for replacement. The maximum dose was 1 g/kg. In 99.6 % of infusions, some type of premedication was indicated; diphenhydramine was the most common drug, with varying dosages. A total of 12 adverse reactions (3.9 % of infusions) were recorded; 3 were severe: aseptic meningitis (2 cases) and seizures (1 case). All resolved to normal.Conclusions. The rate of IVIG adverse reactions in our setting was low; most reactions were mild and immediate and resolved favorably in all patients

Therapeutic Human IgG Preparations Contain Mixture of HLA Antibodies to Native HLA Antigens and Cryptic Epitopes With Little Clinical Significance.

BACKGROUND: Human immunoglobulins (H-Ig) are widely used in solid organ transplantation for immunoglobulin G (IgG) replacement and for desensitization and treatment of antibody-mediated rejection. They are obtained from plasma pools and may contain HLA antibodies that can be detrimental to transplant recipients. The goal of this study was to evaluate HLA antibodies in multiple lots of 2 commercial H-Ig preparations by Luminex single-antigen bead (SAB) and cell-based crossmatch assays. METHODS: Thirty lots of 2 commercial H-Ig products (CSL Behring, King of Prussia, PA) were evaluated: 6 Hizentra and 24 Privigen. All were adsorbed and diluted 1:10 before testing. HLA IgG antibodies were determined by 2 Luminex SAB kits and C1q screen for complement-binding capability. Lots were tested for the presence of antibody to denatured vs. intact class I HLA alleles using acid-treated SAB. Surrogate T and B-cell flow cytometry crossmatches (FCXM) were performed with peripheral blood lymphocytes from 2 healthy donors. RESULTS: Twenty-two (73%) lots at 1:10 showed SAB reactivity with mean fluorescent intensity of 2000 or greater for HLA class I, 67% (20/30 lots) for class II. The reactivity pattern was similar using both SAB kits. Acid treatment revealed antibodies to denatured class I: the majority of HLA-C, half of HLA-B and few HLA-A alleles. No C1q reactivity was observed. Surrogate flow cytometry crossmatch results were positive (>150 median channel shift), but were fourfold to eightfold lower than expected. CONCLUSIONS: The H-Ig products tested consisted of low titer, non-complement-binding HLA class I and class II antibodies; most of the observed class I HLA reactivity was toward denatured HLA antigens.

Subcutaneous immunoglobulin for the treatment of deep morphoea in a child.

Morphoea, also known as localized scleroderma, is a disorder characterized by excessive collagen deposition leading to thickening of the dermis and/or subcutaneous tissues. Intravenous IgG therapy has induced improvement in some fibrotic conditions. The primary indication for subcutaneous IgG (SCIG) is in primary immunodeficiency disorders as replacement therapy; however, recently there has been considerable interest in SCIG as an immunomodulatory agent. We report an 11-year-old girl with deep morphoea who was successfully treated with SCIG.

Hipofisitis linfoplasmocitaria con expresión de IgG4 / IgG4- related lymphoplasmacytic hypophysitis

La hipofisitis linfoplasmocitaria con expresión de inmunoglobulina G4 (IgG4) es una entidad de reciente conocimiento. Pertenece al grupo de enfermedades relacionadas a IgG4 (IgG4-RD, del inglés: IgG4-related disease), donde uno o varios órganos pueden estar comprometidos, con síntomas compresivos u obstructivos, o disfuncionalidad por infiltración celular. La hipófisis puede estar afectada en forma aislada. Clínicamente, se presentan con diabetes insípida, hipopituitarismo y/o síntomas de masa ocupante selar, siendo los principales diagnósticos diferenciales los adenomas selares no secretantes, y otros tipos de hipofisitis. Para arribar al diagnóstico de este tipo patología es necesaria la presencia de una imagen de agrandamiento selar o engrosamiento del tallo pituitario en la resonancia magnética nuclear, una histopatología característica con inmunomarcación positiva para IgG4 en más de 10 células plasmáticas por campo de gran aumento y la presencia de IgG4 sérica elevada. Tienen una excelente respuesta a glucocorticoides, por lo que una sospecha diagnóstica oportuna evitaría una cirugía innecesaria en la mayoría de los pacientes con esta entidad.

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related lymphoplasmacytic hypophysitis is a recently known entity. It belongs to the IgG4-related diseases (IgG4-RD), in which one or more organs may be involved, with compressive or obstructive symptoms, or dysfunctionality due to cellular infiltration. The pituitary gland can be isolatedly affected. Clinically, lymphoplasmacytic hypophysitis presents with diabetes insipidus, hypopituitarism and/or symptoms of an occupying sellar mass, being the non-secreting sellar adenomas and other types of hypophysitis the main differential diagnosis. In order to reach the diagnosis, the presence of pituitary enlargement or pituitary stalk thickening on an MRI scan, a distinctive histopathology with positive for IgG4 immunostaining in more than 10 plasma cells per high-powerfield, and elevated serum IgG4 levels, confirms this type of hypophysitis. As this entity has an excellent response to glucocorticoids, the diagnosis suspicion may avoid an unnecessary surgery in most patients.

Electrophysiological dysfunction induced by anti-ribosomal P protein antibodies injection into the lateral ventricle of the rat brain.

Objective Anti-ribosomal P antibodies (anti-P) are strongly associated with neuropsychiatric lupus. This study was designed to determine whether these antibodies are capable of causing electro-oscillogram (EOSG) and behavior alterations in rats. Methods IgG fraction anti-P positive and affinity-purified anti-P antibodies were injected intraventricularly in rats. Sequential cortical and subcortical EOSGs were analyzed during 30 days. IgG anti-Ro/SS-A and normal IgG were used as controls. Results All 13 animals injected with IgG anti-P demonstrated a high prevalence of polyspikes, diffusely distributed in hippocampal fields and cerebral cortex. These abnormalities persisted approximately a month. Remarkably, an identical electrical disturbance was observed with the inoculation of affinity-purified anti-P antibodies. The EOSG alterations were associated with behavioral disorders with varying degrees of severity in every animal injected with anti-P. In contrast, no changes in EOSG or behavioral disturbances were observed in the control group. Conclusion Our study indicates that anti-P antibodies can directly induce electrophysiological dysfunction in central nervous system particularly in hippocampus and cortex associated with behavior disturbances.

Eficacia y seguridad de vemurafenib en el tratamiento de pacientes con melanoma maligno avanzado con mutación del BRAF/V600E que progresaron al uso de nivolumab / Efficacy and safety of vemurafenib in the treatment of patients with advanced malignant melanoma with BRAF / V600E mutation who progressed to the use of nivoluma

INTRODUCCIÓN: Antecedentes: El presente dictamen expone la evaluación de tecnología de la eficacia y seguridad del uso de vemurafenib como tratamiento de pacientes con diagnóstico de melanoma maligno, metastásico, irresecable, mutación BRAF V600 y que han progresado al tratamiento de primera línea con nivolumab. Aspectos Generales: El Melanoma es un tumor maligno que se origina en los melanocitos y afecta principalmente a la piel. Los melanomas pueden aparecer también en el ojo (úvea, conjuntiva y el cuerpo ciliar), las meninges o en varias superficies de mucosa. Mientras que los melanomas son causantes de cerca del 90% de las muertes asociadas a tumores cutáneos, incluso los tumores pequeños pueden tener tendencia a la metástasis y por lo tanto tener un pronóstico desfavorable. Tecnología Sanitaria de Interés: Vemurafenib (Zelboraf, Roche) es un inhibidor de la proteína quinasa oncogénica BRAF V600. Este medicamento está autorizado para el tratamiento de pacientes adultos con melanoma irresecable o metastásico con la mutación BRAF V600. METODOLOGÍA: Estrategia de Búsqueda: Se realizó una búsqueda de la literatura con respecto a la eficacia y seguridad de vemurafenib para el tratamiento de los pacientes con melanoma maligno, metastásico, irresecable, con mutación BRAF V600 que han progresado a primera línea con nivolumab. Esta búsqueda se realizó utilizando los meta-buscadores: Translating Research into Practice (TRIPDATABASE), National Library (Pubmed-Medline) y Health Systems Evidence. Adicionalmente, se a amplió la búsqueda revisando la evidencia generada por grupos internacionales que realizan revisiones sistemáticas (RS), evaluación de tecnologías sanitarias (ETS) y guías de práctica clínica (GPC), tales como la Cochrane Group, The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the Agency for Health care Research and Quality (AHRQ), The Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) y The Scottish Medicine Consortium (SMC). ESta búsqueda se completó ingresando a la página web www,clinicaltrials.gov, para así pode identificar ensayos clínicos en elaboración o que no hayan sido publicados aún, y así disminuir el riesgo de sesgo de publicación. RESULTADOS: Sinopsis de la Evidencia: Se realizó la búsqueda bibliográfica y de eviencia científica para el sustento del uso de vemurafenib para el tratamiento de los pacientes con melanoma maligno, metastásico, irresecable, con mutación BRAF V600 y que han progresado a la primera línea con nivolumab. Se presenta la evidencia disponible según el tipo de publicación priorizada en los criterios de inclusión. Se incluyeron dos GPC, la guía realizada por la Sociedad Europea de Oncología Médica (ESMO) publicada en el 2015, y la guía del Instituto Nacional para Excelencia en el Cuidado de la Salud (NICE) también pulbicada en el 2015.Se incluyó el estudio BRIM3 que comparó vemurafenib con dacar bazina y en el que se basaron las GPC y la ETS. Aunque la población incluida en este estudio eran pacientes sin tratamiento sistémico previo, se trata del único ensayo clínico aleatorizado de fase III. No se encontraton estudios en progreso o sin publicar que respondan a la pregunta de interés de esta evaluación. Estudios excluidos: el estudio de Sosman et al., 2012 no ha sido incluido porque se trata de un ensayo de fase II sin grupo de comparación y la población no incluye a pacientes que han progresado con nivolumab. CONCLUSIONES: Es posible redefinir los tipos de melanomas en función a la presencia de ciertas mutaciones, las cuales conducen a la activación de proteínas señaladores mutantes que inducen la formación de tumores. Las mutaciones en el gen BRAF están presentes en el 40-70% de los melanomas, condiciendo a una activación de la proliferación celular incontrolada. En EsSalud está disponible el medicamento nivolumab para el tratamiento de primera línea de los pacientes con melanoma metastásico tengan o no la mutación BRAF V600. Frente a esta aprobación los clínicos plantearon la condición clínica de pacientes con melanoma metástasico positivos a la mutación BRAF V600, que progresan a pesar del tratamiento con nivolumab. Esta evaluación se centró en la búsqueda de toda la evidencia respecto a la eficacia de vemurafenib en pacientes que progresaron con nivolumab. Sin embargo, no se ha identificado evidencia respecto a la eficacia de vemurafenib en pacientes con melanoma maligno metastásico irresecable con la mutaciónBRAF V600 y que progresaron al uso de nivolumab. Después de considerar los riesgos de efectos adversos severos con el uso de vemurafenib, los probables costos asociados con el manejo de los mismos y la ausencia de evidencia directa, el balance riesgo beneficio resulta ser claramente de mayor riesgo, mayores inconvenientes para el paciente y probablemente mayores costos frente a un modesto benefício no observado directamente en los pacientes de interés de esta evaluación. En EsSalud está disponible del uso de nivolumad. La dacarbazina se viene usando por más de cuatro décadas y con un perfil de toxicidad conocido y manejable. El Instituto de Evaluación de Tecnologías en Salud e Investigación-IETSI, no aprueba el uso de vemurafenib para el tratamiento de pacientes con MA (irresecable o metastásico) con mutación BRAF V600 después de progresar con nivolumab.

Survey of Latin American Neuroimmunologists on the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis with Monoclonal Antibodies.

Natalizumab and alemtuzumab are monoclonal antibodies approved for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). A third monoclonal antibody, daclizumab, should soon become another alternative for RRMS therapy. A group of 26 doctors working at specific MS Units in seven different Latin American countries participated in the present study. All 26 neurologists had experience with natalizumab for the treatment of MS and were willing to discuss strategies for improving this treatment. Most neurologists had no confidence in starting a patient on natalizumab and alemtuzumab, which are new and efficient drugs approved by North American, European and most Latin American health agencies. The Latin American specialists felt they were not properly informed on daclizumab. Specific pharmacovigilance programs for each of these monoclonal antibodies were considered very important by the neurologists, who were also willing to discuss these therapeutic options with peers from other countries.

Two cases of renal cell cancer during immunobiologic therapy for psoriasis

Immunobiologic therapy is indicated for severe forms of psoriasis, resistant to conventional therapy. There is growing concern about their safety profile and possible association with cancer development. This article documents two cases of renal cell cancer during treatment with biologic therapy, reviewing what is described in the literature . The risk of solid tumors as a complication of using TNF-alpha inhibitors is controversial. No conclusion can be drawn from the data in the literature, however, we believe that special attention should be given to those with known risk factors for a specific neoplasm.

Two cases of renal cell cancer during immunobiologic therapy for psoriasis.

Immunobiologic therapy is indicated for severe forms of psoriasis, resistant to conventional therapy. There is growing concern about their safety profile and possible association with cancer development. This article documents two cases of renal cell cancer during treatment with biologic therapy, reviewing what is described in the literature . The risk of solid tumors as a complication of using TNF-alpha inhibitors is controversial. No conclusion can be drawn from the data in the literature, however, we believe that special attention should be given to those with known risk factors for a specific neoplasm.

Open-label observation of addition of etanercept versus a conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drug in subjects with active rheumatoid arthritis despite methotrexate therapy in the Latin American region.

BACKGROUND: Previous global studies examined etanercept (ETN) + methotrexate (MTX) for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but included few subjects from Latin America. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of ETN + MTX versus a standard-of-care disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) + MTX in Latin American subjects with moderate to severe active RA despite MTX therapy. METHODS: This open-label, active-comparator study (NCT00848354) randomized subjects 2:1 to ETN 50 mg/wk + MTX or investigator-selected DMARD (sulfasalazine or hydroxychloroquine) + MTX (ETN + MTX, n = 281; DMARD + MTX, n = 142). The primary end point was the proportion achieving American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 50 at week 24. Secondary end points included ACR20/70, disease activity score (DAS) 28 measures, and mean change in modified total Sharp score. Patient-reported outcomes were the Health Assessment Questionnaire, 36-item Short-Form, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment: RA (WPAI:RA), and Caregiver Burden and Resource Utilization. Statistical analyses were stratified by country; χ test and analysis of covariance were used. Adverse events were monitored. RESULTS: More subjects achieved ACR50 at week 24 with ETN + MTX versus DMARD + MTX (62% vs 23%, respectively), in addition to secondary end points (P < 0.0001 for all); mean change in modified total Sharp score was lower for the ETN + MTX group (0.4 vs 1.4, respectively; P = 0.0270). Improvements in patient-reported outcomes favored ETN + MTX for Health Assessment Questionnaire, 36-item Short-Form, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for depression, WPAI:RA, and Caregiver Burden and Resource Utilization emergency department visits for RA (P < 0.01). Overall, adverse events were similar between the groups (69% vs 68%,); serious adverse events were also similar (4% vs 1%). The rate of overall infections was higher with ETN + MTX (38%) than DMARD + MTX (22%, P ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with published global data among RA patients with inadequate response to MTX, adding ETN to MTX demonstrated better efficacy than adding one other conventional DMARD to MTX. No new safety issues were observed. ETN + MTX provided favorable benefit-risk profile among RA patients from LA region.

Systemic sarcoidosis induced by etanercept: first Brazilian case report.

The antagonists of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) are increasingly being used in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Several adverse effects of these drugs have been reported, including the paradoxical development of sarcoidosis, especially with the use of etanercept. We present the first Brazilian case report of systemic sarcoidosis induced by etanercept and a literature review.

Systemic sarcoidosis induced by etanercept: first Brazilian case report / Sarcoidose sistemica induzida por etanercepte: primeiro relato de caso brasileiro

The antagonists of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) are increasingly being used in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Several adverse effects of these drugs have been reported, including the paradoxical development of sarcoidosis, especially with the use of etanercept. We present the first Brazilian case report of systemic sarcoidosis induced by etanercept and a literature review.

Os medicamentos antagonistas do fator de necrose tumoral alfa (TNF-α) estão sendo cada vez mais utilizados no tratamento de doenças inflamatórias e autoimunes. Efeitos adversos desses medicamentos vem sendo relatados, incluindo o desenvolvimento paradoxal de sarcoidose, principalmente com o uso do etanercepte. Apresentamos o primeiro relato de caso brasileiro de sarcoidose sistêmica induzida por etanercepte e uma revisão da literatura.

Evaluation of renal function in patients with psoriasis using immunobiologicals.

The aim of this study was to evaluate renal function in patients with psoriasis using immunobiologicals. A prospective study was conducted with 15 patients with confirmed diagnosis of psoriasis who were starting to use immunobiologicals. The mean age was 41 ± 11 years, with 60% females. The mean time of disease was 11 ± 6.6 years. Significant changes in creatinine and creatinine clearance were not observed in the course of the study. There was an increase in transaminases and a decrease in magnesium levels.

Treatment of ankylosing spondylitis with TNF blockers: a meta-analysis.

Biological agents directed against tumor necrosis factor (TNF) represent therapeutic options for patients with ankylosing spondylitis with high disease activity despite use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the anti-TNF agents infliximab, etanercept, adalimumab, golimumab, and certolizumab for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis, we performed a systematic review of randomized clinical trials on adult patients with ankylosing spondylitis using articles culled from the EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register and LILACS databases (September/2012), manual literature search, and the gray literature. Study selections and data collection were performed by two independent reviewers, with disagreements solved by a third reviewer. The following outcomes were evaluated: ASAS 20 response, disease activity, physical function, vertebral mobility, adverse events, and withdraws. The meta-analysis was performed using the Review Manager(®) 5.1 software by applying the random effects model. Eighteen studies were included in this review. No study of certolizumab was included. Patients treated with anti-TNF agents were more likely to display an ASAS 20 response after 12/14 weeks (RR 2.21; 95 % CI 1.91; 2.56) and 24 weeks (RR 2.68; 95 % CI 2.06; 3.48) compared with controls, which was also true for several other efficacy outcomes. Meta-analysis of safety outcomes and withdraws did not indicate statistically significant differences between treatment and control groups after 12 or 30 weeks. Adalimumab, infliximab, etanercept, and golimumab can effectively reduce the signs and symptoms of the axial component of ankylosing spondylitis. Safety outcomes deserve further study, especially with respect to long-term follow-ups.

TNF-α blocker therapy and solid malignancy risk in ANCA-associated vasculitis.

ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV) are small vessel systemic vasculitis syndromes associated with the potential for high morbidity and mortality. This group includes granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener´s, GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss, EGPA). The standard treatment consists of a combination of glucocorticoids and potent immunosuppressant drugs. These have broad mechanisms of action as well as important adverse effects. Efforts have been made to investigate novel agents with better-defined and narrower mechanisms of action, such as biologics, including TNF-α blockers. Etanercept, a well-known TNF-α blocker evaluated for GPA in the Wegener's Granulomatosis Etanercept Trial (WGET), was associated with an increase in the development of solid malignancies in comparison to placebo during that trial period. A 5-year follow-up after the WGET trial showed a sustained increase in incidence of solid malignancies, but this could no longer be solely attributed to etanercept exposure. These studies raised concerns about the use of the family of TNF-α blockers in AAV. Here, we review the evidence about the association between therapeutic inhibition of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) by etanercept and other TNF-α blockers with the development of solid malignancies in GPA and other AAV.

Patient survival and safety with biologic therapy. Results of the Mexican National Registry Biobadamex 1.0.

This work reports patient treatment survival and adverse events related to Biologic Therapy (BT), identified by a multicenter ambispective registry of 2047 rheumatic patients undergoing BT and including a control group of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients not using BT. The most common diagnoses were: RA 79.09%, Ankylosing Spondilytis 7.96%, Psoriatic Arthritis 4.40%, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus 3.37%, Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis 1.17%. A secondary analysis included 1514 cases from the total sample and was performed calculating an incidence rate of any adverse events of 178 × 1000/BT patients per year vs 1009 × 1000/control group patients per year with a 1.6 RR (95% CI 1.4-1.9). For serious adverse events the RR was: 15.4 (95% CI 3.7-63.0, P<.0001). Global BT survival was 80% at 12 months, 61% at 24 months, 52% at 36 months and 45% at 48 months and SMR: 0.23 (95% CI 0.0-49.0) for BT vs 0.00 (95% CI 0.0-0.2) for the control group. In conclusion, BT was associated to a higher infection risk and adverse events, compared to other patients. Mortality using BT was not higher than expected for general population with same gender and age.

Psoriasis, lymphoma and etanercept: is there a correlation?

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect skin and joints. Their treatment varies depending on the severity and includes topical and systemic. Among the latter are the immunobiological that target the T cell We report a case that demonstrates the close relationship between psoriasis, lymphoma and biologic therapies.

Leucopenia e trombocitopenia induzidas por etanercepte: relato de dois casos e revisão da literatura / Leukopenia and thrombocytopenia induced by etanercept: two case reports and literature review

O fator de necrose tumoral alfa (TNF-alfa) é uma citocina pró-inflamatória, e seu excesso pode levar a sérias consequências. Esses efeitos são conhecidos por serem antagonizados por inibidores da atividade do TNF-alfa. O etanercepte é uma proteína de fusão que inibe a ação do TNF-alfa. Como a regulação do TNF-alfa está relacionada à diferenciação celular de várias células envolvidas na resposta imunológica por meio da expressão de várias outras citocinas, é possível que o uso de inibidores dessa citocina possa causar citopenia. Relatamos dois casos de bicitopenia induzidos por etanercepte. Em ambos os casos houve melhora clínica do quadro após a retirada da medicação. Discutimos a necessidade da introdução de testes laboratoriais de rotina em pacientes que usam terapia anti-TNF, para identificar possíveis alterações hematológicas.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a proinflammatory cytokine, and its excess can lead to severe consequences. Those effects are known to be antagonized by TNF-alpha inhibitors. Etanercept is a fusion protein that inhibits TNF-alpha action. As TNF-alpha regulation is related to cellular differentiation of various cellular types involved in immune response through expression of several other cytokines, it is possible that the use of its inhibitors may cause cytopenia. We report two cases of bicytopenia induced by etanercept. Both cases recovered after drug withdrawal. We discuss the need of introduction of routine laboratorial tests in patients using anti-TNF therapy, in order to identify possible hematological changes.