title: Risk of significant cytopenias after treatment with tocilizumab in systemic juvenile arthritis patients with a history of macrophage activation syndrome.
abstract: Tocilizumab (TCZ) is the first FDA- approved treatment for systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA). We report 3 cases of cytopenias in children with sJIA treated with TCZ. Two of the children who developed significant cytopenias shortly after initiation of TCZ had a history of macrophage activation syndrome. We raise the possibility that patients with a tendency towards MAS have an increased risk of developing cytopenias when treated with tocilizumab.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA. jverbsky@mcw.edu.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kessler
authors.forename: Sheetal S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Vora
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Verbsky