Work

Pathological findings in central nervous system demyelination associated with infliximab

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitors, such as infliximab, are commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other immune-mediated disorders. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether infliximab-associated central nervous system (CNS) demyelination can be differentiated from multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: We present a case of pathologically proven CNS demyelination in a patient treated with infliximab and describe clinical-radiographic-neuropathological findings. Putative mechanisms of TNF-alpha inhibitor-associated CNS demyelination are described. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Infliximab treatment is associated with CNS inflammatory demyelinating activity, which is histopathologically indistinguishable from MS.

Source: Multiple Sclerosis Journal

DOI: 10.1177/1352458519894710

Authors: Alicja Kalinowska-Lyszczarz, Mahboobeh Fereidan-Esfahani, Yong Guo, Claudia F Lucchinetti, W Oliver Tobin

Institutions: Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Mayo Clinic

Language: English

Topic: Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies

Subfield: Pathology and Forensic Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Novartis, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke