Successful treatment of a patient with refractory adult Still's disease by tacrolimus

Abstract

Adult Still's disease (ASD) is a systemic rheumatic disease characterized by high spiking fever, erythema, polyarthritis, and increased levels of C-reactive protein, ferritin, and interleukin (IL)-18. Recently, biological agents targeting proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α, IL-1, and IL-6 have been described as effective treatments for refractory ASD. Herein, we present a patient with ASD, who was successfully treated by tacrolimus concomitant with corticosteroid, while infliximab and etanercept were not effective. Tacrolimus may be one of the drugs for the ASD patients refractory to the conventional treatments including TNF inhibitors.

Key words::

• Adult Still's disease
• Interleukin-18
• Interleukin-6
• Tacrolimus
• Tumor necrosis factor
• Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors