Angio-oedema in a patient treated with etanercept for rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

In the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, specific drugs targeting disease-related proinflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor-α have been observed to show a positive impact on the clinical course of the disease. One of these drugs, etanercept, is a recombinant soluble fusion protein of tumour necrosis factor-α type 2 receptor. Although it has many well-established side effects, up to date there has not been any report of angio-oedema in the literature. Hence, we aimed to present clinical findings of a 59-year-old femaleatient who received etanercept for rheumatoid arthritis and developed angio-oedema during treatment, and to the discuss side effects of the drug within the context of current literature. © 2009 Nordic Pharmacological Society.