Vasculitis & polymyalgia rheumatica
Efficacy and management of tocilizumab in polymyalgia rheumatica: results of a multicentre retrospective observational study
An erratum to this article was published (Rheumatology (Oxford), 1 Aug 2024 ↗)
Authors' conclusion
In GC-dependent PMR patients, treatment with TCZ led to a drastic decrease in GC dose and remission of PMR.
Study context
- Population
- PMR patients requiring glucocorticoid (GC)-sparing treatment, French tertiary healthcare departments31 with active PMR despite csDMARDs
- Participants
- 53 patients
- Outcome
- Proportion of patients tapering to GCs ≤5 mg/day
- Follow-up
- 6 months after the first TCZ infusion
Methodological detailsmulticentre, observational, off-label tocilizumab (TCZ)
- Multicentre
- Observational
- Off-label TCZ
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Proportion tapering to GCs ≤5 mg/day · 6 months after first TCZ infusion
GCs ≤5 mg/day at 6 months
77%
95% CI 36–89
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
| Outcome | P value |
|---|---|
| Success of TCZ withdrawal strategiesTCZ infusion spacing vs TCZ discontinuation | P = 0.012 |
| Success of TCZ withdrawal strategiesTCZ dose reduction vs TCZ discontinuation | P = 0.039 |
- Success of TCZ withdrawal strategies — TCZ infusion spacing success
- 87% of attempts
- Success of TCZ withdrawal strategies — TCZ dose reduction success
- 79% of attempts
- Success of TCZ withdrawal strategies — TCZ discontinuation success
- 52% of attempts
GCs ≤5 mg/day · 12 months
- GCs ≤5 mg/day at 12 months
- 97%
GC-free patients · 6 and 12 months after first TCZ infusion
- GC-free at 6 months
- 22.5% (95% CI 12.7-37.8)
- GC-free at 12 months
- 58.3% (95% CI 43.2-74.1)
Original publication
Efficacy and management of tocilizumab in polymyalgia rheumatica: results of a multicentre retrospective observational study. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 21 August 2023. doi:10.
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