류마티스관절염 환자에서 종양궤사인자 차단제 사용 후에 발생한 폐렴 2 예

Two cases of Pneumonia after use of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha Antagonist in patients with Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is provoked by autoimmune process. Chronic inflammation of synovial membrane induces cartilagenous destruction and bony erosion which finally lead to severe joint dam age and functional disability. For the treatment of RA, there are classic materials such as steroid, methotrexate. And recently, biological agents have been developed and among them tum or necrosis antagonists is most often used. These tum or necrosis factoralpha (TN F-a) antagonists are welcomed to its more noticeable effect in treatment of RA rather than disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DM A RD). In spite of its dramatic effect against RA, it is now reported that the use of TN F-a antagonist increases the risk of infection such as bacterial pneumonia and tuberculosis. We report here two cases of newly-developed pneumonia in patients with RA after use of TN F-a antagonist, etanercept.