Refining the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis: the Benefits of Subcutaneous Tocilizumab.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune condition which affects approximately 1% of the adult population worldwide and is characterized by joint inflammation, with extra-articular features being common. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is one of the chief pro-inflammatory cytokines found in the joints and sera of patients with RA. Increased levels of IL-6 correlate with inflammation, disease activity, and radiological damage.

Extraarticular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis develop in patients receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor-α treatment: a retrospective chart review from a UK center.

Objective: To assess the evolution of preexisting extraarticular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis (EA-RA) in patients treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), as well as the development of new EA-RA.

Methods: We assessed EA-RA in 152 patients receiving anti-TNF-α treatment.

Results: In 22 cases, a new EA-RA developed.