title: Tocilizumab, a humanized anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibody, ameliorated clinical symptoms and MRI findings of a patient with ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory osteoarticular disease. Although the etiology remains unknown, proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-6, have been implicated in the development of AS. Here, we report that a patient with AS, whose disease had been refractory to conventional treatment regimens and who needed to receive continuous corticosteroid, responded well to tocilizumab. While further clinical evaluation is required, tocilizumab may be an optional treatment for AS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Allergy and Rheumatic Diseases, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shima
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.forename: Taeko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Atsuyoshi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morishima
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ogata
authors.forename: Tadamitsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; C502936:tocilizumab