Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitors, such as infliximab, are commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other immune-mediated disorders.
Objective:
To determine whether infliximab-associated central nervous system (CNS) demyelination can be differentiated from multiple sclerosis (MS).
Methods:
We present a case of pathologically proven CNS demyelination in a patient treated with infliximab and describe clinical–radiographic–neuropathological findings. Putative mechanisms of TNF-alpha inhibitor-associated CNS demyelination are described.
Results and conclusion:
Infliximab treatment is associated with CNS inflammatory demyelinating activity, which is histopathologically indistinguishable from MS.
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