title: [Tocilizumab in rheumatoid arthritis].
abstract: Tocilizumab (TCZ) is a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against the receptor for IL-6, approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Japan, Europe and the US. Wide clinical development has shown the efficacy of TCZ in most of the possible situations of RA: RA without prior failure to MTX (AMBITION), RA unresponsive to MTX (SATORI, OPTION, LITHE) or any DMARD (TOWARD, ROSE) as well as RA refractory to anti-TNFa agents (RADIATE). In addition to its early onset, efficacy was constant and even increased as time passed (GROWTH95, GROWTH96). TCZ has shown great efficacy in correcting laboratory alterations in RA, both in acute phase reactants as well as anemia of inflammatory disease. Although in RA TCZ us initially indicated in combination with MTX, it has also shown its efficacy as monotherapy (AMBITION). TCZ is equally effective in the prevention of structural damage (SAMURAI, LITHE). In addition, it has shown to be a safe and well-tolerated drug, similar to other biologic therapies. All of these aspects make TCZ an adequate therapeutic alternative to be considered in any RA scenario.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, España. ruedagotor@gmail.com
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rueda Gotor
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blanco Alonso
mesh_terms: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; C502936:tocilizumab; D008727:Methotrexate