Successful Treatment of Bronchiolitis Obliterans in a Bone Marrow Transplant Patient With Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Blockade

• DOI: 10.1542/peds.2005-0806
• Publication Date: 2005-09-01T00:36:02Z
• Authors: Jason J. Fullmer; Leland L. Fan; Megan K. Dishop; Cheryl Rodgers; Robert Krance
• Keywords: Immunosuppression

Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) in children is a rare, inflammatory/fibrosing process involving the small airways that often results progressive, irreversible obstructive pulmonary disease. Because treatment has focused mainly on supportive care and generally unsuccessful immunosuppression, with BO experience significant morbidity mortality. We report case of biopsy-proven after bone marrow transplantation child who, failed corticosteroid therapy, was treated infliximab, monoclonal antibody binding specificity for human tumor necrosis factor-α. With initiation treatment, her symptoms radiographic spirometric evidence resolved. Nine months later, she remains asymptomatic shows no decompensation. This illustrates successful selective factor-α blockade.