Aplastic anemia following administration of a tumor necrosis factor‐α inhibitor

Abstract: Upregulation of tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis. Therapeutic agents such as antibodies or soluble TNF‐α receptor analogs, which block TNF‐α activity are a recent addition to the therapeutic armamentarium for the conditions. We describe a patient who developed aplastic anemia complicated by sepsis after receiving etanercept, a TNF‐α receptor analog, for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Pancytopenia resolved within 3 wk of discontinuing etanercept. To our knowledge, this is the first report of aplastic anemia associated with TNF‐α blockade.