Etanercept-Induced Hypoglycemia in a Patient With Psoriatic Arthritis and Diabetes

• Published in: JIM - high impact case reports Vol. 5; no. 3; p. 2324709617727760
• Main Authors: Pfeifer, Emily C., Saxon, David R, Janson, Robert W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.07.2017; Sage Publications Ltd; SAGE Publishing
• Subjects: Arthritis; Case Report; Case reports; Diabetes; Hypoglycemia; Metabolic syndrome; Psoriasis; Psoriatic arthritis; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; diabetes mellitus; psoriatic arthritis; etanercept; hypoglycemia
• ISSN: 2324-7096; 2324-7096
• DOI: 10.1177/2324709617727760

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis and inflammation involving the axial skeleton and/or peripheral joints. It is more likely to be associated with metabolic syndrome and diabetes when compared with other inflammatory arthritides. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is one of several cytokines often elevated in rheumatologic disorders including PsA and has also been found to be elevated in patients with obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and/or atherosclerotic disease. We describe the case of a patient with PsA as well as poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus who experienced not only improvement in his psoriasis and arthritis with the anti-TNF-α agent etanercept but also recurrent hypoglycemia and significant improvement in hemoglobin A1c despite discontinuation of all conventional therapy for diabetes.