Efficacy Of Tocilizumab In Patients Research Articles

Efficacy of tocilizumab in patients with moderate-to-severe corticosteroid-resistant thyroid eye disease: a prospective study.

To evaluate the clinical outcomes of intravenous tocilizumab (TCZ) injection in patients with moderate-to-severe active thyroid eye disease (TED). Patients with active and moderate-to-severe TED who did not respond to conventional therapies were treated with TCZ from June 2019 to January 2021. The medical records of the patients were evaluated before the treatment. We analyzed patient demographics, including the duration of Graves' disease and TED, and assessed subjective symptoms, such as diplopia and ocular movement, clinical activity score (CAS), modified NOSPECS score, and exophthalmos before treatment and at 4, 8, 12, and 16weeks after the first drug injection. Blood tests, including TSH Rc Ab and TS Ab, were performed before treatment and 24weeks after the first injection. And orbital computed tomography (CT) was performed and Barrett's Index was calculated at baseline and after completion of all injections. Nineteen completed the scheduled treatment. There were no significant side effects, other than herpes zoster in one case and headache and dermatitis in another. Clinical symptoms before and 16 weeks after the treatment showed mean CAS decreased by 2.4 points, mean modified NOSPECS score decreased by 3.7 points, and mean exophthalmos decreased by 0.4 mm. Diplopia and extraocular muscle limitation improved in ten and remained stationary in five of the 15 patients, who presented with extraocular motility abnormalities. Six of 11 patients who underwent orbit CT showed improvement in muscle size. The mean TSH Rc Ab decreased by 7.5 IU/L and TS-Ab decreased by 162.9%. TCZ can treat active moderate-to-severe TED, showing high drug compliance and reasonable response to inflammation and extraocular motility abnormality.

Efficacy of Tocilizumab in Patients with Moderate and Severe COVID-19: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Single Center

Efficacy of Tocilizumab in Patients with Moderate and Severe COVID-19: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Single Center

Efficacy of tocilizumab for refractory Takayasu arteritis: a retrospective study and literature review

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tocilizumab (TCZ) in the treatment of refractory Takayasu arteritis (TAK). Eleven refractory TAK patients treated with TCZ at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University between 2017 July and 2020 December were respectively analyzed. We also respectively analyzed the studies on TCZ efficacy in patients with TAK, from PubMed/MEDLINE, Elsevier Science Direct between January 2010 and April 2021. The median age of 11 patients was 34(19–46) years. After 3 months of TCZ, a significant drop was found in median NIH (3[2–5] at baseline vs 1[0–2] after 6 months; p < 0.05), ITAS-2010 score (8.5[6–11] vs 6[1–10]; p < 0.05). One (9%) patient experienced relapse during TCZ treatment. After withdrawal of TCZ, one patient (9%) underwent relapse and nine patients (81%) were spared of GC use. In literature review, a total of 211 patients (mean age 35 years) were analyzed, including 80 (38%) Chinese and 169 females (80%). Among the 211 patients, (154 patients) 73% achieved remission after the last infusion of TCZ; TAK relapsed in 6% of patients during TCZ treatment and 5% of the TCZ patients after the withdrawal of TCZ. A total of 95 types of adverse events were observed in the literature. Infection was the most common adverse effect, occurring in 50% of patients. TCZ could serve as an efficacious and safe agent for refractory TAK.

Real World Long-term Assessment of The Efficacy of Tocilizumab in Patients with COVID-19: Results From A Large De-identified Multicenter Electronic Health Record Dataset in the United States

BackgroundStudies have shown conflicting results on the efficacy of tocilizumab (TCZ) for patients with COVID-19, with many confounders of clinical status and limited duration of the observation. Here, we evaluate the real-world long-term efficacy of TCZ in COVID-19 patients. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study of hospitalized adult patients with COVID-19 using a large US-based multicenter COVID-19 database (Cerner Real-World Data; updated in September, 2020). The TCZ group was defined as patients who received at least one dose of the drug. Matching weight (MW) and a propensity score weighting method were used to balance confounding factors. ResultsA total of 20,399 patients were identified. 1,510 and 18,899 were in the TCZ and control groups, respectively. After MW adjustment, no statistically significant differences in all-cause mortality were found for the TCZ vs. control group (Hazard Ratio [HR]:0.76, p=0.06). Survival curves suggested a better trend in short-term observation, driven from a subgroup of patients requiring oxygen masks, BIPAP or CPAP. ConclusionWe observed a temporal (early) benefit of TCZ, especially in patients on non-invasive high-flow supplemental oxygen. However, the benefit effects faded with longer observation. The long-term benefits and risks of TCZ should be carefully evaluated with follow-up studies.

Disease Activity Indices in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Comparative Performance to Detect Changes in Function, IL-6 Levels, and Radiographic Progression.

Objective: To compare the capacity of various disease activity indices to evaluate changes in function, IL-6 levels, and radiographic progression in early and established rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods: Secondary data analysis of a clinical trial assessing the efficacy of tocilizumab in patients with established RA (ACT-RAY) and a longitudinal prospective register of early arthritis (PEARL). Targeted outcomes were changes in physical function, measured with the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), IL-6 serum levels, and radiographic progression. The “Hospital Universitario La Princesa Index” (HUPI), DAS28 using erythrocyte sedimentation rate and SDAI were the disease activity indices compared. Models adjusted for age and sex were fitted for each outcome and index and ranked based on the R2 parameter and the quasi-likelihood under the independence model criterion.Results: Data from 8,090 visits (550 patients) from ACT-RAY and 775 visits (534 patients) from PEARL were analyzed. The best performing models for HAQ were the HUPI (R2 = 0.351) and SDAI ones (R2 = 0.329). For serum IL-6 levels, the SDAI (R2 = 0.208) followed by the HUPI model (R2 = 0.205). For radiographic progression in ACT-RAY, the HUPI (R2 = 0.034) and the DAS28 models (R2 = 0.026) performed best whereas the DAS28 (R2 = 0.030) and HUPI models (R2 = 0.023) did so in PEARL.Conclusions: HUPI outperformed other indices identifying changes in HAQ and radiographic progression and performed similarly to SDAI for IL-6 serum levels.

Efficacy of tocilizumab in patients with severe COVID-19: Survival and clinical outcomes

BackgroundSARS-CoV-2 is associated with a severe inflammatory response contributing to respiratory and systemic manifestations, morbidity, and mortality in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). MethodsTocilizumab (TCZ) efficacy on mortality and length of hospital stay was retrospectively evaluated in patients who received TCZ and compared with that in controls with a similar severity of COVID-19. The primary endpoint was survival probability on day 28. The secondary endpoints included survival at day 14 and length of hospital stay. ResultsOf the 148 patients included in the study, 62 received TCZ and standard of care, whereas 86 served as a control group and received only standard of care. The two groups were similar, although TCZ-treated patients were more likely to exhibit hypertension (46.7% vs. 29.8%), chronic kidney disease (14.5% vs. 1.1%), and high Charlson score (1.18 vs. 1.00; p = 0.006) and less likely to receive corticosteroid treatment (48.5% vs. 93.0%). TCZ was associated with lower mortality on both day 28 (16.1% vs. 37.2%, p = 0.004) and day 14 (9.7% vs. 24.4%, p = 0.022). The hospital stay was longer in the TCZ-treated than in the control group (15.6 ± 7.59 vs.17.7 ± 7.8 days, p = 0.103). Ten patients (16.0%) in the TCZ-treated group developed infections. ConclusionTCZ was associated with a lower likelihood of death despite resulting in higher infection rates and a non-significant longer hospital stay.

Administration Timing and Efficacy of Tocilizumab in Patients With COVID-19 and Elevated IL-6.

BackgroundTocilizumab (TCZ), an interleukin-6 receptor antibody, has previously been used for treating patients with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but there is a lack of data regarding the administration timing of TCZ.ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the timing and efficacy of TCZ in the treatment of patients with COVID-19.MethodsLaboratory-confirmed patients with COVID-19 with an elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6) level (>10 pg/ml) were offered TCZ intravenously for compassionate use. Clinical characteristics, laboratory tests, and chest imaging before and after the administration of TCZ were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsA total of 58 consecutive patients who met the inclusion criteria and with no compliance to the exclusion criteria were included. Of these 58 patients, 39 patients received TCZ treatment, and 19 patients who declined TCZ treatment were used as the control cohort. In the TCZ-treatment group, 6 patients (15.4%) were in mild condition, 16 (41.0%) were in severe condition, and 17 (43.6%) were in critical condition. After TCZ treatment, the condition of 27 patients (69.2%) improved and 12 (30.8%) died. Compared with the improvement group, patients in the death group had higher baseline levels of IL-6 (P = 0.0191) and procalcitonin (PCT) (P = 0.0003) and lower lymphocyte percentage (LYM) (P = 0.0059). Patients receiving TCZ treatment had better prognoses than those without TCZ treatment (P = 0.0273). Furthermore, patients with a baseline IL-6 level of ≥100 pg/ml in the TCZ-treatment group had poorer clinical outcomes than those with an IL-6 level of <100 pg/ml (P = 0.0051).ConclusionThe administration of TCZ in an early stage of cytokine storm (IL-6 level < 100 pg/ml) may effectively improve the clinical prognosis of patients with COVID-19 by blocking the IL-6 signal pathway.

Tocilizumab vs placebo for the treatment of giant cell arteritis with polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms, cranial symptoms or both in a randomized trial

ObjectiveThe randomized, placebo (PBO)-controlled GiACTA trial demonstrated the efficacy and safety of tocilizumab (TCZ) in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA). The present study evaluated the efficacy of TCZ in patients with GCA presenting with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) symptoms only, cranial symptoms only or both PMR and cranial symptoms in the GiACTA trial. MethodsIn GiACTA, 250 patients with GCA received either TCZ weekly or every other week plus a 26-week prednisone taper or PBO plus a 26- or 52-week prednisone taper. This post hoc analysis assessed baseline characteristics, sustained remission rate, number of flares, annualized flare rate, time to flare, cumulative prednisone dose, methotrexate use and safety in patients with PMR symptoms only, cranial symptoms only or both at baseline. ResultsOverall, 52 patients had PMR symptoms only, 94 had cranial symptoms only and 104 had both symptoms at baseline. At Week 52, rates of sustained remission were significantly higher with TCZ vs PBO in all 3 groups (PMR only, 45.2% vs 19.0%, P = 0.0446; cranial only, 60.3% vs 19.4%, P = 0.0001; PMR and cranial, 55.0% vs 11.4%, P < 0.0001). Smaller proportions of TCZ-treated patients experienced disease flare than PBO-treated patients across all groups (PMR only, 41.9% vs 57.1%; cranial only, 20.7% vs 47.2%; PMR and cranial, 31.7% vs 81.8%). Annualized flare rate and risk of flare were significantly lower with TCZ vs PBO for patients with cranial symptoms only and both symptoms; they were numerically lower, but did not reach statistical significance, in the smaller group of patients with PMR symptoms only. ConclusionsTCZ improved clinical outcomes in patients who presented with PMR symptoms only, cranial symptoms only or both at baseline, suggesting that TCZ is effective in patients with GCA regardless of the presenting clinical phenotype.

Tocilizumab did not reduce hypoxemic respiratory failure or death in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Stone JH, Frigault MJ, Serling-Boyd NJ, et al. Efficacy of tocilizumab in patients hospitalized with Covid-19. N Engl J Med. 2020;383:2333-44. 33085857.

Connective tissue remodelling is differently modulated by tocilizumab versus methotrexate monotherapy in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis: the AMBITION study

ObjectiveAssociations between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and effect of treatment at the tissue levels are poorly understood. We investigated the scope of released extracellular matrix (ECM) metabolites as a consequence of tissue remodelling in patients treated with methotrexate (MTX) and tocilizumab (TCZ) compared to placebo.MethodsTissue metabolites from 387 RA patients treated with either TCZ (8 mg/kg) or MTX monotherapy (7.5–20 mg/kg) were measured at baseline and 8 weeks sera by validated ELISA assays. The levels of collagen biomarkers (C1M, C2M, C3M and C4M) together with C-reactive protein (CRP) and CRP metabolite (CRPM) were investigated. Baseline levels of biomarkers have been compared with 72 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Comparison between treatment and response groups were done by ANCOVA, Spearman’s correlation and logistic regression adjusted for age, gender, BMI and disease duration.ResultsC1M and C3M were significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited by TCZ and C3M by MTX (P < 0.01) compared to placebo. C1M and C3M inhibition with TCZ was respectively 23% and 16% greater than that of MTX (P < 0.01 and P < 0.0001). C4M was inhibited by TCZ and MTX, but the effect of TCZ was 22% greater than MTX (P < 0.0001). TCZ and MTX had minimal effect on C2M levels. MTX had no effect on CRP and CRPM, whereas TCZ reduced their levels to 69% and 27% from baseline. Investigated biomarkers revealed a significant (P < 0.05) difference in biomarker profiles of MTX ACR50 treatment responders and non-responders. Change to week 8 in levels of C3M, C4M, CRP and CRPM in MTX patients correlated significantly (rho = 0.41 to 0.18, P < 0.0001 to 0.039) with change in disease activity (DAS28) at weeks 8, 16 and 24, whereas only CRP in TCZ patients (rho = 0.32 to 0.21, P < 0.0001 to 0.01).ConclusionPatients receiving TCZ treatment for 8 weeks had higher suppression of tissue remodelling and inflammatory biomarkers over patients treated with MTX. Measured biomarkers enabled for a discrimination of biomarker profiles of ACR50 treatment responding patients and identification of those who benefit at the early time point. Week 8 change in levels of C3M, C4M, CRP and CRPM significantly predicted clinical response to treatment and correlated with DAS28 at all time points.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00109408. Date of registration: July 2005. Name of the registry: A Study to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of Tocilizumab in Patients with Active Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Matched cohort study on the efficacy of tocilizumab in patients with COVID-19

BackgroundTocilizumab has been proposed as a treatment for the new disease COVID-19, however, there is not enough scientific evidence to support this treatment. The objective of this study is to analyze whether the use of tocilizumab is associated with respiratory improvement and a shorter time to discharge in patients with COVID-19 and lung involvement. MethodsObservational study on a cohort of 418 patients, admitted to three county hospitals in Catalonia (Spain). Patients admitted consecutively were included and followed until discharge or up to 30 days of admission. A sub-cohort of patients treated with tocilizumab and a sub-cohort of control patients were identified, matched by a large number of risk factors and clinical variables. Sub-cohorts were also matched by the number of other treatments for COVID-19 that patients received. Increment in SAFI (inspired oxygen fraction / saturation) 48 h after the start of treatment, and time to discharge, were the primary outcomes. Mortality, which was a secondary outcome, was analyzed in the total cohort, by using logistic regression models, adjusted by confounders. ResultsThere were 96 patients treated with tocilizumab. Of them, 22 patients could be matched with an equivalent number of control patients. The increment in SAFI from baseline to 48 h of treatment, was not significantly different between groups (tocilizumab: −0.04; control: 0.09; p = 0.636). Also, no difference in time to discharge was found between the two sub-cohorts (logrank test: p = 0.472). The logistic regression models, did not show an effect of tocilizumab on mortality (OR 0.99; p = 0.990). ConclusionsWe did not find a clinical benefit associated with the use tocilizumab, in terms of respiratory function at 48 h of treatment, or time to discharge.

Efficacy of Tocilizumab in Patients Hospitalized with Covid-19

BackgroundThe efficacy of interleukin-6 receptor blockade in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) who are not receiving mechanical ventilation is unclear.MethodsWe performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving patients with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, hyperinflammatory states, and at least two of the following signs: fever (body temperature >38°C), pulmonary infiltrates, or the need for supplemental oxygen in order to maintain an oxygen saturation greater than 92%. Patients were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive standard care plus a single dose of either tocilizumab (8 mg per kilogram of body weight) or placebo. The primary outcome was intubation or death, assessed in a time-to-event analysis. The secondary efficacy outcomes were clinical worsening and discontinuation of supplemental oxygen among patients who had been receiving it at baseline, both assessed in time-to-event analyses.ResultsWe enrolled 243 patients; 141 (58%) were men, and 102 (42%) were women. The median age was 59.8 years (range, 21.7 to 85.4), and 45% of the patients were Hispanic or Latino. The hazard ratio for intubation or death in the tocilizumab group as compared with the placebo group was 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.38 to 1.81; P=0.64), and the hazard ratio for disease worsening was 1.11 (95% CI, 0.59 to 2.10; P=0.73). At 14 days, 18.0% of the patients in the tocilizumab group and 14.9% of the patients in the placebo group had had worsening of disease. The median time to discontinuation of supplemental oxygen was 5.0 days (95% CI, 3.8 to 7.6) in the tocilizumab group and 4.9 days (95% CI, 3.8 to 7.8) in the placebo group (P=0.69). At 14 days, 24.6% of the patients in the tocilizumab group and 21.2% of the patients in the placebo group were still receiving supplemental oxygen. Patients who received tocilizumab had fewer serious infections than patients who received placebo.ConclusionsTocilizumab was not effective for preventing intubation or death in moderately ill hospitalized patients with Covid-19. Some benefit or harm cannot be ruled out, however, because the confidence intervals for efficacy comparisons were wide. (Funded by Genentech; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04356937.)

Efficacy of tocilizumab in patients with hand osteoarthritis: double blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of tocilizumab, an antibody against IL-6 receptor, in patients with hand osteoarthritis.MethodsThis was a multicentre, 12-week, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study from November 2015 to October 2018....

Efficacy of tocilizumab in patients with COVID-19 ARDS undergoing noninvasive ventilation

BackgroundThe severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is extremely variable, ranging from asymptomatic patients to those who develop severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). As for now, there are still no really effective therapies for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Some evidences suggest that tocilizumab (TCZ) may avoid the progression of severe COVID-19. The aim of this retrospective case-control study was to analyze the efficacy and safety of TCZ in patients with COVID-19 ARDS undergoing noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV).MethodsSeventy-nine consecutive patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia and worsening acute respiratory failure (ARF) were admitted to the Pulmonology Unit of Azienda USL of Reggio Emilia-IRCCS. All patients were inflamed (elevated CRP and IL-6 levels) and received NIV at admission according to the presence of a pO2/FiO2 ratio ≤ 200 mmHg. The possibility of being treated with TCZ depended on the drug availability. The primary outcome was the in-hospital mortality rate. A secondary composite outcome of worsening was represented by the patients who died in the pulmonology unit or were intubated.ResultsOut of 79 patients, 41 were treated with TCZ. Twenty-eight patients received intravenous (IV) TCZ and 13 patients received subcutaneous (SC) TCZ. In-hospital overall mortality rate was 38% (30/79 patients). The probabilities of dying and being intubated during the follow-up using Kaplan-Meier method were significantly lower in total patients treated with TCZ compared to those of patients not treated with TCZ (log-rank p value = 0.006 and 0.036, respectively). However, using Cox multivariate analyses adjusted for age and Charlson comorbidity index only the association with the reduced risk of being intubated or dying maintained the significance (HR 0.44, 95%CI 0.22–0.89, p = 0.022). Two patients treated with TCZ developed cavitating lung lesions during the follow-up.ConclusionsThis study shows that TCZ treatment may be effective in COVID-19 patients with severe respiratory impairment receiving NIV. More data on safety are required. Randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these results.

Tocilizumab versus Rituximab in Patients with Moderate to Severe Steroid-resistant Graves’ Orbitopathy

ABSTRACT Introduction To describe the efficacy of tocilizumab in patients with Graves’ orbitopathy resistant or dependent to steroids and compare to rituximab treated patients. Patients and Methods Graves’s orbitopathy response was considered as decrease of at least 2 points of the CAS. Results Twenty-one patients were included, 7 patients were treated with tocilizumab and 14 with rituximab. The primary was achieved in all 7 patients (100%) on tocilizumab and 9 out of 14 patients on (64%) rituximab (p = .17). Mean change in CAS was consistent with a decrease of 3.3 ± 0.5 points in patients on tocilizumab versus 2.5 ± 1.9 in patients on rituximab (p = .07). One patient on tocilizumab (14%) and 4 patients (29%) on rituximab experienced significant relapse during the follow-up. The difference in relapse-free survival was not significant in patients on tocilizumab (10.8 ± 4 months) compared with rituximab (17.88 ± 3.66). Conclusion We showed a significant improvement in the CAS, visual acuity, diplopia, and proptosis with both tocilizumab and rituximab.

Efficacy and safety of tocilizumab in treatment of Takayasu arteritis: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Background Takayasu arteritis (TAK) is a chronic immune vasculitis in which Interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptors play a key role in pathogenesis. Tocilizumab (TCZ), an IL-6 receptor antagonist with a favorable safety and efficacy profile, has been tried as an option for patients with TAK. This systematic review analyzed the evidence from randomized control trials (RCT) assessing the safety and efficacy of TCZ in patients with TAK. Methods MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and clinical trial registries were searched from inception to July 2018. We included RCT assessing the efficacy and safety of TCZ versus placebo/other comparators for the treatment of patients with TAK. The risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using Cochrane RoB tool. Results 2799 identified articles were screened as per abstract and title; 42 selected full-texts articles were assessed for the potential inclusion. One trial, reported in two publications, comparing subcutaneous TCZ (162 mg/week) versus matching placebo in 36 patients with TAK was included. The relapse-free rate at 24 weeks was 50.6% and 22.9% in TCZ and placebo arm, respectively. The hazard ratio (HR) for time to first relapse was statistically significant in the per-protocol population (HR 0.34 [95.41% CI, 0.11–1.00]; p = .0345), while non-significant in the intention-to-treat population (HR 0.41 [95.41% CI, 0.15–1.10]; p = .0596). The serious adverse events were higher in the placebo arm. Conclusions This systematic review finds the existing evidence from RCT on efficacy and safety profile of TCZ in TAK to be promising but limited. Additional evidence is required to draw a stronger conclusion.

Effect of vitreomacular adhesion on the treatment outcomes in the STOP-Uveitis clinical trial for non-infectious uveitis

PurposeTo evaluate the role of vitreomacular adhesion (VMA) in visual and anatomic outcomes in patients with non-infectious uveitis.DesignPhase 2 clinical trialParticipantsData from the Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Tocilizumab in Patients with Non-infectious Uveitis (STOP-Uveitis) study was analyzed.MethodsIn the STOP-Uveitis study, patients with non-infectious uveitis (NIU) received monthly intravenous infusions of either 4 or 8 mg/kg tocilizumab until month 6 (M6). Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) images of patients that completed M6 of the study were analyzed at baseline to stratify the patients by the presence (VMA+) or absence (VMA−) of VMA. Patients with vitreomacular traction (VMT) or epiretinal membrane causing structural abnormalities within center 1 mm were excluded. All images were graded by two independent graders.Main outcome measuresMean change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), and vitreous haze (VH) at M6.ResultsOut of 37 patients randomized in the STOP-Uveitis study, 48 eyes (27 patients) were eligible based on the study criteria. At baseline, 19 eyes were classified as VMA+, and 32 eyes were classified as VMA−. The distribution of two doses of TCZ (4 mg/kg and 8 mg/kg) were similar between the two groups. At M6, the mean improvement in BCVA was 2.00 ± 5.3 and 6.50 ± 7.98 letters in the VMA+ and VMA− groups, respectively (p = 0.02). The mean improvement in CRT was 34.85 ± 72.36 and 80.37 ± 157.21 μm in the VMA+ and VMA− groups, respectively (p = 0.18). Similarly, the mean change in VH was − 0.65 ± 0.47 and − 0.76 ± 0.71 in the VMA+ and VMA− groups, respectively (p = 0.32). Out of 16 eyes with VMA at baseline, 3 eyes developed posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) at M6. The mean change in BCVA was significantly higher (p = 0.02), while CRT and VH score were similar (p > 0.05) in eyes with PVD compared to eyes with persistent VMA.ConclusionsThe absence of VMA or development of PVD in eyes with VMA seems to have a beneficial effect on the vision of subjects receiving treatment for uveitis. Therefore, patients with uveitis should be assessed using SD-OCT for the presence of vitreomacular interface abnormalities.

Efficacy of subcutaneous tocilizumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis overlap syndrome: a report of two cases and review of the literature

BackgroundThe details of two rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) who were administered tocilizumab, an anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibody, are reported, along with a review of the literature.Case presentationTwo RA patients with SSc with inadequate responses to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) were given tocilizumab 162 mg every 2 weeks for 18 months. RA disease activity was evaluated by the 28-joint disease activity score with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) and the clinical disease activity index (CDAI). The skin condition of SSc was evaluated by pinching the skin according to the modified Rodnan total skin thickness score (mRSS). Softening of the skin and improvements of arthritis and the patient global assessment were observed during tocilizumab treatment, with reduction of not only RA disease activity, but also of the mRSS.ConclusionTocilizumab may be effective in patients with RA and SSc overlap syndrome for which conventional treatment is inadequate. Further research is needed because this report included only two patients.

170 Safety and efficacy of subcutaneous tocilizumab in patients with systemic and polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis

170 Safety and efficacy of subcutaneous tocilizumab in patients with systemic and polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Some concerns from Turkey

We read the paper written by Kaneko et al with great interest.1 This study demonstrates the safety and efficacy of tocilizumab in patients with adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD). This randomised...