Brief Report: A Prospective Open-Label Phase IIa Trial of Tocilizumab in the Treatment of Polymyalgia Rheumatica.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pivotal cytokine in the pathogenesis of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), yet the efficacy of IL-6 blockade with tocilizumab (TCZ) for the treatment of PMR is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of TCZ in newly diagnosed PMR.

Methods

In a single-center open-label study, patients with newly diagnosed PMR who had been treated with glucocorticoids (GCs) for <1 month were treated monthly with intravenous (IV) TCZ 8 mg/kg for 1 year, with a rapid tapering of GCs according to standardized protocol. The primary end point was the proportion of patients in relapse-free remission without GC treatment at 6 months. Secondary outcome measures included duration of GC use and cumulative GC dose. Patients were followed up for

SUBMITTER: Lally L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5837044 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature