[Clinical and biological efficacy of tocilizumab in giant cell arteritis: report of three patients and literature review].
BACKGROUND
Treatment of giant cell arteritis is based on prolonged corticosteroid therapy but adverse side effects are common especially in the elderly.


METHODS
We report three patients with giant cell vasculitis treated by tocilizumab, an interleukin-6 receptor antibody, owing to resistance or intolerance to corticosteroid therapy. A favorable outcome was rapidly observed both on clinical and biological data allowing a corticoid therapy sparing.


CONCLUSIONS
Tocilizumab is a promising treatment of giant cell arteritis but controlled trials are needed to confirm its efficacy.
Service de médecine interne, hôpital Emile-Muller, 20, rue du Dr-Laennec, 68100 Mulhouse, France.
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Kieffer
Service de médecine interne, hôpital Emile-Muller, 20, rue du Dr-Laennec, 68100 Mulhouse, France.
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Hinschberger
Service de médecine interne, hôpital Emile-Muller, 20, rue du Dr-Laennec, 68100 Mulhouse, France.
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Ciobanu
Service de médecine interne, hôpital Emile-Muller, 20, rue du Dr-Laennec, 68100 Mulhouse, France.
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Jaeger-Bizet
Service de médecine interne, hôpital Emile-Muller, 20, rue du Dr-Laennec, 68100 Mulhouse, France.
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Drabo
Service de médecine interne, hôpital Emile-Muller, 20, rue du Dr-Laennec, 68100 Mulhouse, France.
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Mostoufizadeh
Service de médecine interne, hôpital Emile-Muller, 20, rue du Dr-Laennec, 68100 Mulhouse, France. Electronic address: martzolffl@ch-mulhouse.fr.
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Martzolff
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C502936:tocilizumab
Artérite temporale; Giant cell arteritis; IL-6; Maladie de Horton; Temporal arteritis; Tocilizumab; Vascularite; Vasculitis