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Review
. 2021 Dec;87(12):4848-4852.
doi: 10.1111/bcp.14878. Epub 2021 May 12.

Lung and liver sarcoidosis-like reaction induced by tocilizumab

Nicolas Lambert  1 , Isabelle Hansen  1 , Majdouline El Moussaoui  2 , Jean-Baptiste Giot  2 , Christelle Vercheval  3 , Émilie Lommers  1 , Joan Somja  4 , Michel Moutschen  2 , Pierre Maquet  1
Affiliations
Free article
Review

Lung and liver sarcoidosis-like reaction induced by tocilizumab

Nicolas Lambert et al. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2021 Dec.
Free article

Abstract

A drug-induced sarcoidosis-like reaction is a systemic granulomatous reaction indistinguishable from sarcoidosis and occurring in temporal relationship with a drug initiation. In this article, we report a patient who developed lung and liver granulomatous lesions following tocilizumab initiation for a giant cell arteritis. Infectious, toxic, neoplastic and inflammatory differential diagnoses were ruled out and lesions regressed after treatment cessation, leading to the diagnosis of tocilizumab induced sarcoidosis-like reaction. We review the 6 cases reported so far and emphasize the value of a prompt diagnosis. Finally, we discuss the potential pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this rare reaction, which could help to better understand the pathophysiology of sarcoidosis.

Keywords: adverse drug reactions; internal medicine; monoclonal antibodies; pharmacovigilance.

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References

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