title: Utility of Dose Frequency Adjustment in Tocilizumab Administration for Rheumatoid Arthritis.
abstract: To assess the utility of dose frequency adjustment of tocilizumab (TCZ) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  
  Patients who received TCZ at 3-week (n = 24) or 5-week (n = 61) interval were evaluated.
  
  
  
  Disease Activity Score at 28 joints based on erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the 3-week group significantly improved after 3 administrations at 3-week intervals (from 4.2 to 2.7, p = 0.001). Forty-five of the patients in the 5-week group (74%) successfully continued 5-week interval administration without disease exacerbation. Lower C-reactive protein level at TCZ initiation and shorter duration to remission achievement were key to successful dose frequency reduction.
  
  
  
  Adjusting the dose frequency of intravenous TCZ is a useful strategy.
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.|S. Saito, MD, Rheumatologist, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine; Y. Kaneko, MD, PhD, Rheumatologist, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine; K. Izumi, MD, PhD, Rheumatologist, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine; T. Takeuchi, MD, PhD, Rheumatologist, Professor, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Shuntaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.|S. Saito, MD, Rheumatologist, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine; Y. Kaneko, MD, PhD, Rheumatologist, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine; K. Izumi, MD, PhD, Rheumatologist, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine; T. Takeuchi, MD, PhD, Rheumatologist, Professor, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.|S. Saito, MD, Rheumatologist, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine; Y. Kaneko, MD, PhD, Rheumatologist, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine; K. Izumi, MD, PhD, Rheumatologist, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine; T. Takeuchi, MD, PhD, Rheumatologist, Professor, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Izumi
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. tsutake@z5.keio.jp.|S. Saito, MD, Rheumatologist, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine; Y. Kaneko, MD, PhD, Rheumatologist, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine; K. Izumi, MD, PhD, Rheumatologist, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine; T. Takeuchi, MD, PhD, Rheumatologist, Professor, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine. tsutake@z5.keio.jp.
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; C502936:tocilizumab
keywords: RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS; TOCILIZUMAB