Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor-induced isolated pleural granulomas: a rare adverse effect

A 53-year-old man with a history of Crohn's disease on infliximab, presented with several weeks of cough and dyspnoea. He had a right-sided pleural effusion, found to be exudative with lymphocytic predominance. He underwent right-sided video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) with biopsies and pleurodesis. Histopathology showed pleural-based non-caseating granulomas with unremarkable lung parenchyma. Cultures were only positive for Propionibacterium acnes. 8 months later, he was found to have a left-sided exudative, lymphocytic predominant pleural effusion. Left-sided VATS and biopsies again showed pleural-based non-caseating granulomas with normal lung parenchyma. Having ruled out an active infection and malignant lesions, we diagnosed infliximab-induced pleural granulomas. Infliximab was stopped. The patient continues to do well at 6 years of follow-up. We believe this is the first report of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor-induced isolated pleural granulomas. P. acnes and cytokine imbalance might be responsible for the pathogenesis of TNF inhibitor-induced granulomas.

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