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- Title
Tocilizumab in Giant Cell Arteritis: A Real-Life Retrospective Study.
- Authors
Vitiello, Gianfranco; Battaglini, Carolina Orsi; Carli, Giulia; Radice, Anna; Matucci, Andrea; Vultaggio, Alessandra; Olianti, Catia; Parronchi, Paola; Maggi, Enrico; Cammelli, Daniele
- Abstract
This study aims to evaluate (1) the efficacy and safety of tocilizumab (TCZ) as a steroid-sparing agent in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) and (2) the usefulness of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in the follow-up and to detect disease activity.We retrospectively evaluated 12 patients with GCA treated with TCZ(8mg/kg/mo). Pre- and posttherapy data about clinical signs and symptoms, laboratory results, FDG-PET imaging study, and the mean glucocorticoid (GC) dose were used to assess disease activity. Tocilizumab achieved complete disease remission in all patients. Mean FDG-PET-detected standard uptake value decreased from2.05+0.64 to 1.78+0.45 (P=.005). In 2 patients in whom temporal arteries color Doppler sonography examination was consistent with temporal arteritis, the hypoechoic halo disappeared after TCZ treatment.Mean GC dose was tapered from 26.6 + 13.4 mg/d to 3.3 + 3.1 mg/d (P < .0001). One-half of the patients discontinued GC therapy. Three patients experienced severe adverse reactions and had to stop TCZ therapy. In accordance with previous reports, TCZ is an effective steroid-sparing agent for GCA, although careful monitoring of adverse drug reactions is needed. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography could be used to monitor disease activity in TCZ-treated patients, but prospective studies are needed to confirm these data.
- Subjects
DEOXY sugars; GIANT cell arteritis; GLUCOCORTICOIDS; RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS; POSITRON emission tomography; TERMINATION of treatment; COLOR Doppler ultrasonography; DISEASE remission; RETROSPECTIVE studies; TEMPORAL arteries; SYMPTOMS; TOCILIZUMAB; THERAPEUTICS
- Publication
Angiology, 2018, Vol 69, Issue 9, p763
- ISSN
0003-3197
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/0003319717753223