Steroid-sparing Effects of Etanercept in a Patient with Steroid-dependent Adult-onset Still's Disease

We herein report the case of an 84-year-old man with steroid-dependent adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) whose daily steroid dose was successfully tapered after etanercept treatment. The corticosteroids worked well initially, and the patient went into remission promptly; however, he suffered a relapse due to steroid tapering. Because treatment with cyclosporine and methotrexate was ineffective, reducing the steroid dose was difficult, and the corticosteroids induced myopathy and diabetes. However, steroid tapering was accomplished in combination with etanercept therapy, and the patient's steroid-induced side effects disappeared. Etanercept should therefore be considered as a steroid-sparing treatment option in patients with steroid-responsive, steroid-dependent AOSD.