Tocilizumab Is Effective to Treat GCA

The tocilizumab groups had fewer serious adverse events (14–15%) than the placebo groups (22–25%). However, one patient in the group that received tocilizumab bi-weekly developed anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. The authors call for longer follow-up to determine the durability of remission and the long-term safety of tocilizumab.

Lara C. Pullen, PhD, is a medical writer based in the Chicago area.

Reference

Stone JH, Tuckwell K, Dimonaco S, et al. Trial of tocilizumab in giant cell arteritis. N Engl J Med. 2017 Jul 27;377(4):317–328. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1613849.
Hellmann DB. Giant cell arteritis—more ecstasy, less agony. N Engl J Med. 2017 Jul 27;377(4):385–386. doi: 10.1056/NEJMe1706439.

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