Prolonged paradoxical reaction to anti-tuberculous treatment after discontinuation of TNF-alpha- blocker therapy with adalimumab. Rare clinical documentation

In the past decades, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) antagonist has been a milestone in the treatment of many chronic inflammatory diseases. TNF antagonist can increase patients’ susceptibility to many different kinds of infections especially those requiring granuloma formations despite regular performance of Screening for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). We report 2 cases of patients who developed tuberculosis under treatment with adalimumab, which was discontinued after the diagnosis of tuberculosis. During the tuberculosis therapy they unexpectedly developed a prolonged paradoxical reaction. In both cases we were only able to manage the progress of the paradoxical reaction through high steroid doses. Patients undergoing therapy with TNF- alpha-blocker are prone to develop tuberculosis infection, which could in turn lead to severe prolonged paradoxical reaction during anti-tuberculous treatment. An increased steroid dose may be required and is sometimes necessary.