Efficacy of Infliximab Therapy for a Patient with Superficial Thrombophlebitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Masahiro Tada, Kazuyoshi Fukai, Tadashi Okano, Yuko Sugioka, Shigeyuki Wakitani, Hiroaki Nakamura, Tatsuya Koike

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DOI: 10.4236/ijcm.2011.24077                

Abstract

Superficial thrombophlebitis is known as a frequent complication of Behçet’s disease. Infliximab may promote healing of superficial thrombophlebitis in patients with Behçet’s disease. However, thrombophlebitis as a complication of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is rare and treatments have not been reported. We describe the case of a 47-year-old man with RA with complications of superficial thrombophlebitis who was treated using methotrexate and infliximab. Erythema nodosum and cord-like induration with pain in the extremities completely disappeared following a single infusion of infliximab and oral acetylsalicylic acid was not needed. This case suggests that infliximab might offer effective treatment for patients showing superficial thrombophlebitis with RA.

Keywords

Infliximab, Superficial Thrombophlebitis, Treatment, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Tumor Necrosis Factor α

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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