Biomedical subjects

Kenneth S Knox

Publications and source records attributed to Kenneth S Knox.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2003

Refractory sarcoidosis responding to infliximab.

Despite aggressive treatment with conventional therapy, sarcoidosis may be progressive and debilitating. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha is critical in the genesis and maintenance of granulomatous inflammation. Agents developed to inhibit TNF-alpha have been approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease with unprecedented success. As such, physicians are increasingly using these agents to treat patients with other inflammatory diseases, including sarcoidosis. We report a case of refractory sarcoidosis, involving the lung, eyes, skin, and heart, which flared despite aggressive therapy. Oculocutaneous sarcoid dramatically improved after treatment with the anti-TNF antibody infliximab.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed2003

Pulmonary cryptococcosis after initiation of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha therapy.

Many patients with rheumatoid arthritis are being treated with immunosuppressive regimens that include an agent directed at blocking tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. Although reportedly safe, tuberculous and fungal infections have emerged as significant complications of therapy. We report a case of pulmonary cryptococcosis soon after the initiation of therapy with the anti-TNF-alpha antibody, infliximab. A diagnosis was made early in the disease course, and the patient responded quickly to antifungal therapy. This case should alert clinicians to the increased incidence of pulmonary mycoses in patients receiving anti-TNF-alpha therapy.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed2002

Acute graft-versus-host disease of the lung after liver transplantation.

We describe the first case of a man who developed acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), isolated to the lung, after an orthotopic liver transplant from a female donor. Our patient experienced dyspnea, worsening hypoxemia, and a progressive obstructive ventilatory defect 12 days after liver transplantation. Open-lung biopsy revealed grade 2 lymphocytic bronchiolitis, the pathologic and immunologic correlate of acute pulmonary GVHD. Fluorescent in situ hybridization confirmed donor cells at sites of peribronchiolar inflammation. High-dose corticosteroids were given with a return to baseline pulmonary function. The current case should alert clinicians to investigate pulmonary GVHD as a potential cause of postoperative dyspnea in liver transplant recipients.

Acute Disease↗