Vasculitis & polymyalgia rheumatica
Taper versus discontinuation of tocilizumab in patients with giant cell arteritis: Real-world experience from a tertiary center
Authors' conclusion
This is the first study indicating that TCZ taper induced longer relapse-free survival than abrupt discontinuation
Study context
- Population
- Giant cell arteritis (GCA) patients treated with tocilizumab (TCZ), single tertiary centre, 2012–2022104 discontinued TCZ
- Participants
- 155 patients
- Exposure
- TCZ taper vs abrupt discontinuation
- Tapern = 57
- Abrupt discontinuationn = 59reference
- Outcome
- Relapse (time to relapse, relapse-free survival)
Methodological detailssingle-centre
- Single-centre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Relapse
| Group | Value | Relapse on TCZ every second week | Relapse on TCZ every third week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taper | 6/38 (16 %) | 2/19 (11 %) | |
| Abrupt discontinuation | 46 % |
Value
Taper— not stated in the abstract
Abrupt discontinuation46 %
Relapse on TCZ every second week
Taper6/38 (16 %)
Abrupt discontinuation— not stated in the abstract
Relapse on TCZ every third week
Taper2/19 (11 %)
Abrupt discontinuation— not stated in the abstract
- Abrupt discontinuation vs Taper: P = 0.02 — significantly shorter with abrupt discontinuation vs all tapered
- Abrupt discontinuation vs Taper: P < 0.01 — vs patients tapered from weekly to every second week
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Relapse while receiving tapered TCZ, by dosing interval
- Time to relapse, abrupt discontinuation vs patients tapered from weekly TCZ to every second week (subgroup)
- P < 0.01
- Time to relapse, abrupt discontinuation vs patients tapered from weekly TCZ to every second week (subgroup): significantly shorter time to relapse with abrupt discontinuation; Wilcoxon-Brewlos-Gehan test
Safety
TCZ discontinuation due to adverse events
- Patients discontinuing TCZ due to AEs
- 15 %
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Taper versus discontinuation of tocilizumab in patients with giant cell arteritis: Real-world experience from a tertiary center. Semin Arthritis Rheum. Published 4 July 2024. doi:10.
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