title: Tocilizumab in the treatment of mixed connective tissue disease and overlap syndrome in children.
abstract: Arthritis is one of the main manifestations of mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) and overlap syndrome in children and can be responsible for functional disability. We report on 2 children with arthritis that were dramatically improved by a treatment with interleukin-6 (IL-6) blockers in the context of connective tissue disease. However, in both cases, other systemic autoimmune symptoms were not modified by the treatment and autoantibodies tend to increase, suggesting a differential effect of IL-6 inhibition on articular inflammation and systemic autoimmunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Rheumatology , Hôpital Femme Mère Enfant, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, University of Lyon , Lyon , France.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cabrera
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Rheumatology , Hôpital Femme Mère Enfant, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, University of Lyon , Lyon , France.
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duquesne
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Rheumatology , Hôpital Femme Mère Enfant, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, University of Lyon , Lyon , France.
authors.forename: Marine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Desjonquères
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology , Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, University of Lyon , Pierre-Bénite , France.
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Larbre
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal and Vascular Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, University of Lyon, Lyon, France; Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, CNRS, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, University of Lyon, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Christophe
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lega
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology , Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, Hospices Civils de Lyon , Lyon , France.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fabien
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Hôpital Femme Mère Enfant, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, University of Lyon, Lyon, France; INSERM U1111.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Belot
keywords: Autoimmune Diseases; Cytokines; Dermatomyositis; Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis; Systemic Lupus Erythematosus