Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitors are increasingly being used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Infliximab (INF) is a TNF-α inhibitor that is usually used in combination with methotrexate (MTX). Interstitial lung disease (ILD) during combination therapy has been attributed to MTX rather than INF. However, INF-associated ILD without combination with MTX has recently been reported. We describe herein a case of severe ILD secondary to INF without MTX therapy.
Primary Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder involving mainly salivary and lachrymal glands. However, many extraglandular symptoms have also been reported. Although leucocytopenia and lymphocytopenia are frequently observed in hematological disorders, autoimmune hemolytic anemia is rarely reported. We experienced a case of primary Sjögren's syndrome developing severe autoimmune hemolytic anemia. The patient's red blood cells showed spontaneous agglutination in saline at room temperature, and immunoglobulin M (IgM) was detected on the surface of red blood cells by flow cytometry, indicating that autoimmune hemolytic anemia was caused by warm reactive IgM antibodies. Immediate corticosteroid therapy resulted in a dramatic recovery. We report a first case of severe autoimmune hemolytic anemia caused by warm reactive IgM antibodies in primary Sjögren's syndrome.
Hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is an unusual but sometimes fatal disorder. We reported a case of 21-year-old man who developed HPS and SLE simultaneously. Febrile pancytopenia, hyperferritinemia, and abnormal liver function tests were observed. Hemophagocytic cells were observed by means of bone marrow biopsy and diagnosed as HPS. The patient was treated with high-dose prednisolone, resulting in an excellent outcome. Early diagnosis of HPS by bone marrow biopsy is important for the successful treatment.
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