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Wegener granulomatosis (WG) is a multisystem disorder with prominent involvement of the lungs and kidneys. Traditional therapy includes corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide, agents associated with serious potential toxicity. Increased levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in the circulation of WG patients, a correlation between TNF-α levels and disease activity, and suggestions of benefit from etanercept in uncontrolled studies pointed to etanercept as a potential treatment for WG with less toxicity. Investigators at eight medical centers designed a randomized, double-blind trial of etanercept versus placebo in 174 evaluable patients. All patients also received standard therapy.
The researchers found no differences in the number of susta…