Vasculitis & polymyalgia rheumatica
Tocilizumab (TCZ) for Giant Cell Arteritis: Clinical Outcomes Following Relapses and TCZ Discontinuation Due to Adverse Events
Authors' conclusion
Although GCA relapses can occur after initiating TCZ therapy, most relapses can be safely managed by adjusting TCZ, GC, and/or MTX doses.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) who initiated TCZ from 2008 to 2021 at 5 Japanese hospitals
- Participants
- 62 patients
- Outcome
- GCA relapse after TCZ initiation
- Follow-up
- 2 years
Methodological detailsmulticentre
- Multicentre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Patients relapsing after initiating TCZ
10
16%
Relapses occurring after extending TCZ intervals or discontinuing TCZ
8 of 10
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Outcomes after AE-related TCZ discontinuation · 1 year after discontinuation
- Attempted glucocorticoid (GC) taper without other immunosuppressive therapy (IST)
- 6
- Relapsed among those tapering GC without other IST
- 4
- Used other IST or biologic therapy and decreased GCs without relapses
- 2
Safety
Adverse events (AEs) · 2 years
- Patients with AEs
- 28 (45%)
- Discontinued TCZ because of AEs
- 8 (13%)
Original publication
Tocilizumab (TCZ) for Giant Cell Arteritis: Clinical Outcomes Following Relapses and TCZ Discontinuation Due to Adverse Events. J Rheumatol. Published 15 November 2024. doi:10.
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