Gram-negative Septicemia after Infliximab Treatment in an Infant with Refractory Kawasaki Disease.
10.14776/kjpid.2014.21.3.225
- Author:
Jin Hwan LEE
;
Jung Min YOON
;
Jae Woo LIM
;
Kyong Og KO
;
Eun Jung CHEON
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Kawasaki disease;
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha;
Infliximab;
Septicemia
- MeSH:
Bacterial Infections;
Cardiovascular Diseases;
Developed Countries;
Humans;
Immunoglobulins;
Infant*;
Male;
Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome*;
Opportunistic Infections;
Sepsis*;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha;
Infliximab
- From:Korean Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
2014;21(3):225-230
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Kawasaki disease (KD) is an immune-mediated disease which is a leading cause of acquired cardiovascular disease in developed country. Recently, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) blocker, infliximab has been considered a promising option for patients with refractory KD. Although chronic use of a TNF-alpha blocker could increase risk of opportunistic infections, a few studies have documented that use of infliximab was safe without serious adverse effects in patients with KD. We observed serious bacterial infection after infliximab treatment in an infant with refractory KD. Our patient was a 5-month-old male infant diagnosed with KD who did not respond to repeated doses of intravenous immunoglobulin. We effectively treated him with a single infusion of infliximab (5 mg/kg), but gram-negative (Acinetobacter lwoffii) septicemia developed after infliximab infusion. Therefore, we report a case of serious septicemia after treatment with infliximab, and suggest considering the risk of severe infection when deciding whether to prescribe infliximab to an infant with refractory KD.
