title: Case report: safety and efficacy of tocilizumab in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis and chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: Tocilizumab is a monoclonal humanized anti-IL-6-receptor antibody used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The safety of tocilizumab in HCV patients is an open question. We report on safety and efficacy of tocilizumab in a 71-year-old female with rheumatoid arthritis and chronic hepatitis C. Monotherapy with tocilizumab (8 mg/kg every 4 weeks, i.v.) was prescribed after the discontinuation, determined by clinical inefficacy, of anti-TNF-alfa agents (adalimumab and, subsequently, etanercept). We have registered an optimal and rapid clinical response to tocilizumab with early remission (SDAI <3.3 since 4 weeks). The safety was good with no adverse events and maintenance, during a six-month followup, of normal liver enzymes. These data suggest a good safety profile of tocilizumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and chronic hepatitis C virus pathology.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology, San Giovanni-Addolorata Hospital, 00184 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iebba
authors.forename: Fiorella
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Sora
authors.forename: Agapito
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tarasi
authors.forename: Wilma
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Leti
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Montella
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Montella