Glucocorticoid Dosages and Acute-Phase Reactant Levels at Giant Cell Arteritis Flare in a Randomized Trial of Tocilizumab.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:This study was undertaken to evaluate glucocorticoid dosages and serologic findings in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) flares. METHODS:Patients with GCA were randomly assigned to receive double-blind dosing with either subcutaneous tocilizumab (TCZ) 162 mg weekly plus 26-week prednisone taper (TCZ-QW + Pred-26), every-other-week TCZ plus 26-week prednisone taper (TCZ-Q2W + Pred-26), placebo plus 26-week prednisone taper (PBO + Pred-26), or placebo plus 52-week prednisone taper (PBO + Pred-52). Outcome measures were prednisone dosage, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) at the time of flare. RESULTS:One hundred patients received TCZ-QW + Pred-26, 49 received TCZ-Q2W + Pred-26, 50 received PBO + Pred-26, and 51 received PBO + Pred-52. O

SUBMITTER: Stone JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6772126 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature