Early instauration granulomatous pneumonitis associated with use of etanercept in seronegative spondyloarthropathy: Case report

Spondyloarthropathies are a group of chronic inflammatory disorders that involve the joints of the axial skeleton, peripheral joints and have extra-articular manifestations. Treatment includes inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor α. Currently there are five approved inhibitors: a soluble receptor, Etanercept and four monoclonal. Etanercept has very low toxicity with pulmonary adverse reactions being very rare. We present the case of a patient who developed respiratory symptoms and pulmonary infiltrates of rapid evolution after the third dose of treatment with Etanercept.

[Pulmonary intravascular talcosis: A case report]

INTRODUCTION

Pulmonary intravascular talcosis is a rare condition occurring in intravenous drug users injecting oral medications. Talc results in a foreign-body granulomatous reaction giving a radiological haematogenic miliary appearance mimicking miliary tuberculosis. Drug users represent a population at risk for both these conditions and their distinction may be challenging.

CASE REPORT

We reported the case of a man, 33 year-old, intravenous drug addict, detected by the health services because he was the partner of a person who died of contagious and multi-resistant tuberculosis. Chest X-ray and CT scan showed a typical miliary appearance. Despite negative microbiology, clinical diagnosis of miliary tuberculosis was retained. Due to the lack of radiological improvement despite appropriate antibiotic treatment, re-evaluation and trans-bronchial biopsy were undertaken. The presence of granulomas centered by birefringent foreign bodies in polarized light led to a diagnosis of pulmonary intravascular talcosis.

CONCLUSION

In the presence of pulmonary miliary in an intravenous drug addict, intravascular talcosis should be suspected.