title: Two-year efficacy of tocilizumab in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis in clinical practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of tocilizumab (TCZ) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in clinical practice, retention rates of the drug and predictors of response.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a descriptive, prospective, longitudinal, open-label study in patients receiving TCZ (8mg/kg/4 weeks) in a clinical practice setting. The clinical responses were evaluated using the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response criteria, and the low activity and remission rates according to the Disease Activity Score 28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) and the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The EULAR response rate was 86.63% and the DAS28 remission rate was 53.7% after 6 months of treatment; rates of low disease activity were 52.9% on CDAI and 47.1% on DAS28 at month 24. There were no statistically significant differences in EULAR response, rates of low activity and remission on DAS28 between patients receiving TCZ alone and those receiving TCZ in combination therapy, or between patients positive or negative for rheumatoid factor (RF) and/or anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies. The naïve biological therapy patients showed better remission and low activity rates after 6 months of treatment. The retention rate was 61% at month 24. Adverse events were among the most frequent causes of discontinuation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tocilizumab is effective in RA, has a similar efficacy when used alone or in combination with synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and shows high retention rates.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Reumatología, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Granada, Granada, España. Electronic address: irenotario@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Notario Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Reumatología, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Granada, Granada, España.
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ferrer González
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Reumatología, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Granada, Granada, España.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morales Garrido
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Reumatología, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Granada, Granada, España.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González Utrilla
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Reumatología, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Granada, Granada, España.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García Sanchez
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Reumatología, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Granada, Granada, España.
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Soto Pino
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Reumatología, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Granada, Granada, España.
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Suero Rosario
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Reumatología, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Granada, Granada, España.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caro Hernández
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Reumatología, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Granada, Granada, España.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Añón Oñate
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Reumatología, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Granada, Granada, España.
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pérez Albaladejo
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Reumatología, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Granada, Granada, España.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cáliz Cáliz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; C502936:tocilizumab
keywords: Artritis reumatoide; Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; Fármacos antirreumáticos modificadores de la enfermedad; Rheumatoid arthritis; Tocilizumab