Pulmonary abscess due to leflunomide use in rheumatoid arthritis: A case report
Rheumatology International, cilt.25, sa.2, ss.139-142, 2005 (Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 25 Sayı: 2
- Basım Tarihi: 2005
- Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s00296-004-0493-6
- Dergi Adı: Rheumatology International
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.139-142
- Anahtar Kelimeler: infection, leflunomide, pulmonary abscess, rheumatoid arthritis
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır
Özet
A 43-year-old woman had rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for 5 years and complained of fever, arthralgia/myalgia, and night sweating for a month. She had been receiving only leflunomide (20 mg/day) for 5 months. On admission, there was no evidence of active arthritis or vasculitic lesion. Laboratory evaluation showed an erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 145 mm/h and C-reactive protein of 160 mg/dl. All cultures were negative. Chest radiograph and computed tomography (CT) revealed a pulmonary abscess. Staphylococcus aureus multiplied in the culture of a purulent sample obtained from the abscess under ultrasonography. The leflunomide was stopped, and sultamicillin (IV 4×2 g/day) was started for a further 6 weeks. Four weeks later, the patient had completely recovered and CT showed significant improvement of the pulmonary abscess. Ten milligrams/day of prednisolone and 7.5 mg/week of methotrexate were started for RA treatment. The patient has been under control for 5 months without any further abscess or RA activation. © Springer-Verlag 2004.