Study subjects
The majority of patients tolerated the treatment well and no adverse events were recorded. Patient 1-4 and 6-11 were classified as responders (n=10) and 12-13 as non-responders (n=2), see Table 2. Both patients with stage I disease (patient number 2 and 6) had lung parenchymal nodules but they were only visible on CT scan, not on chest X-ray. The non-responders had a clearly deteriorating disease as assessed by CT scan and prednisone dose was increased (patient number 12) or started (number 13) after the follow-up bronchoscopy. Patient number 5 developed a slight increase of liver enzymes after the 3rd infusion but they returned to just above normal without any specific treatment and therefore infliximab infusions were continued. However, after the 5th infusion the liver enzymes started to increase again. Auto-antibodies and hepatitis serology were negative and ultra-sound of the liver disclosed no abnormalities. A liver biopsy showed chronic inflammation and a slight fibrosis. The prednisolone dose was increased and thereafter liver enzymes normalized. Due to the adverse event the patient was excluded from the study and did not take part in the follow-up.