Efficacy of adalimumab for a refractory case of relapsing polychondritis with reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines

Abstract

A 68-year-old man with a fever of unknown origin was admitted to our hospital. Bilateral auricularis and nasal root inflammation, with auricular perichondritis positive for anti-type II collagen (CII) antibody, led to a diagnosis of relapsing polychondritis (RP). Because the patient was refractory for high-dose glucocorticoid therapy, adalimumab was used. After the initiation of 40 mg of adalimumab, a rapid improvement of clinical manifestations, with a reduction in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), together with a titer of anti-CII antibody was observed.