Etanercept in the treatment of recalcitrant enteropathic arthritis: a case report

Enteropathic arthritis is one of the recognized extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease and affects up to 25% of patients. The treatment options for refractory disease were rather limited and ineffective until the arrival of biologic therapy in the last few years. The use of etanercept was unique for this disease.

In this case report, a 58-year-old Malay woman with a 17-year history of ulcerative colitis had persistent left knee effusion and synovitis for seven years, despite remission of the primary disease. She had had multiple courses of systemic and intra-articular steroid that caused significant systemic side effects such as impaired fasting glucose, hypertension, cataract, and weight gain. She also had a total left knee replacement for secondary osteoarthritis. But the left knee synovitis and effusion recurred a month after the total knee replacement, and she was subjected to a total synovectomy the following year. In view of failure of remission despite multiple immunosuppressants (100 mg of azathioprine daily, 1 g of sulfasalazine twice a day, 10 mg of prednisolone daily, and 10 mg of methotrexate weekly), 25 mg of subcutaneous etanercept twice weekly was started. After 5 weeks of treatment, complete resolution of left knee effusion and normalization of the inflammatory markers were shown. This continued up to 12 months of follow-up while our patient was on etanercept and 10 mg of methotrexate weekly. No relapse or serious side effects were noted.

This case demonstrates the efficacy of etanercept in recalcitrant enteropathic arthritis with no relapse of the underlying colitis while on treatment. The usage of this tumor necrosis factor inhibitor was unique in this case of rheumatology and gastroenterology.