Abstract
The interleukin (IL)-6 receptor inhibitor tocilizumab represents a major advance in the treatment of giant cell arteritis. Randomised controlled trials, along with increasing observational experience in clinical practice, have supported the efficacy of tocilizumab in maintaining remission, reducing glucocorticoid exposure, and improving quality of life. 1 Stone JH Tuckwell K Dimonaco S et al. Trial of tocilizumab in giant-cell arteritis. N Engl J Med. 2017; 377: 317-328 Crossref PubMed Scopus (534) Google Scholar , 2 Villiger PM Adler S Kuchen S et al. Tocilizumab for induction and maintenance of remission in giant cell arteritis: a phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2016; 387: 1921-1927 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (333) Google Scholar Whether glucocorticoid doses used in clinical trials could be further reduced with the use of tocilizumab is an important, as yet unanswered, question. Tocilizumab monotherapy after ultra-short glucocorticoid administration in giant cell arteritis: a single-arm, open-label, proof-of-concept studyThe data show a slow remission-inducing and a lasting remission-maintaining effect of tocilizumab after an ultra-short pulse of glucocorticoids in patients with newly diagnosed giant cell arteritis. As a proof-of-concept study, our data do not allow us to propose clinical recommendations. Full-Text PDF
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