Refractory Vertebral Sarcoidosis Responding to Infliximab

Abstract

Treatment of refractory sarcoidosis may be challenging for clinicians. Despite treatment with conventional therapy, sarcoidosis may be progressive and debilitating. Previous studies have implicated a role for tumor necrosis factor-alpha in granuloma formation as seen in sarcoidosis. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors are currently approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn disease, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. There have been recent case-reports supporting treatment of refractory and multisystem sarcoidosis with such agents. We report a case of sarcoidosis, involving the lung and vertebrae, which was refractory to conventional therapy. Our patient's clinical symptoms and radiologic lesions of vertebral sarcoid dramatically improved after treatment with infliximab.