[The use of cyclophosphamide in the treatment of Still's disease - a case report].

UNLABELLED: Still disease is a rare systemic connective tissue disease of unknown etiology, which due to nonspecific symptoms, requires thorough diagnostics. Steroids are the basis treatment, while other immunosuppressive drugs should be applied for patients who are resistant to standard therapy.

A CASE REPORT: A 36-year-old woman was admitted to the Department of Rheumatology due to a month history of persisting fever, arthralgia, cervical lymphadenopathy, soar throat, cutaneous lesions, liver transaminases elevation, hyperferritinemia and elevated inflamatory markers. Basing on the clinical presentation and additional diagnostic examinations the adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) was diagnosed. Initially the patient was placed on steroids and cyclosporine but due to the severe clinical course requiring high doses of steroids and relapses triggered by the tapering of the dose, the decision to initate the treatment with cyclophosphamide was made. It eventually led to the fast and lasting remission and allowed tapering and subsequent discontinuation of the steroids.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with cyclophosphamide may be a viable and efficient therapeutic option in severe and refractory cases of AOSD.