Vasculitis & polymyalgia rheumatica
Tocilizumab may not be a good option for vascular involvement due to Behçet's syndrome
Authors' conclusion
Tocilizumab could potentially exacerbate vascular manifestations, similar to what is observed with mucocutaneous lesions in BS patients. Furthermore, CRP levels appear to be ineffective in monitoring these patients.
Study context
- Population
- Behçet's syndrome (BS) patients with large vessel involvement treated with tocilizumab, Behçet's Disease Research Centre, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, 2000–2022
- Participants
- 7 patients
- Outcome
- Vascular relapses after tocilizumab initiation
- Follow-up
- Median of 6 months
Methodological detailssingle-centre
- Single-centre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Tocilizumab
5
events
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
- C-reactive protein (CRP) levels normal at the time of vascular relapse
- 4 of the 5 patients
Safety
Exacerbation of mucocutaneous symptoms
- One of the 5 patients with vascular relapse and another patient with aortitis had an exacerbation of mucocutaneous symptoms
Venous ulcers
- In the last patient, venous ulcers did not respond to tocilizumab and were complicated with infection
Original publication
Tocilizumab may not be a good option for vascular involvement due to Behçet's syndrome. Clin Exp Rheumatol. Published 12 March 2024. doi:10.
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