AI Article Synopsis
- Tocilizumab (TCZ) is effective in treating giant cell arteritis (GCA), but the best treatment duration remains unclear, as stopping early may lead to relapses while prolonged treatment raises safety concerns.
- In this study, 38 GCA patients treated with TCZ and a fast tapering schedule of prednisone (up to 62.5 mg) were followed for 24 months, revealing a 29% incidence of adverse events (AEs), with only one classified as serious.
- The findings indicate that long-term TCZ treatment combined with low-dose corticosteroids can achieve clinical remission in GCA patients, with only a small percentage (8%) experiencing minor relapses after an
Article Abstract
Objective: Tocilizumab (TCZ) is the only biologic drug approved for the treatment of giant cell arteritis (GCA), having clinical trials and real-life studies proved its efficacy and safety. However, the optimal duration of the treatment has yet to be determined, being its early interruption associated with an increased risk of relapse. Conversely, prolonged schemes of therapy may rise safety concerns. The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of adverse events (AEs) and remission/relapse rate in a cohort of GCA patients treated with TCZ and an accelerated steroid tapering scheme, followed for 24 months.
Methods: We retrospectively included patients referring to our clinic from January 2019 to November 2021 who were diagnosed with GCA and started subcutaneous TCZ treatment (162 mg/week). They also received up to 62,5 mg of prednisone (PDN), tapered following an accelerated six-month scheme.
Results: We collected 38 patients, with a mean age of 76,4 years, treated with TCZ for an average of 22,3 months. AEs occurred in 11 (29%) subjects, and only one serious AE was reported; 7 (18%) patients permanently discontinued TCZ. At the end of the follow-up, all the patients continuing treatment showed clinical remission, with a PDN dosage <5mg. We registered 3 (8%) minor relapses under TCZ, after an average of 15 months.
Conclusion: Our data support the evidence of a safe and effective long-term use of TCZ in GCA patients, especially when combined with moderate GCs doses for the shortest possible duration.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11457781 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/BTT.S470107 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
A case of pulmonary ALK-positive histiocytosis combined with Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome carrying an gene fusion: a case report and literature review.
Front Immunol
January 2025
Department of Pathology, Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital/Shanxi Hospital Affiliated to Cancer Hosipital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China.
In this article, we report the first case of a 61-year-old woman who was diagnosed with both nodules and cystic lesions in her lungs. The lung nodules were diagnosed as ALK-positive histiocytosis (APH) carrying an gene fusion, which microscopically displayed a mixed morphology of foamy cells, spindle cells, and Touton's giant cells. Immunohistochemistry showed expression of CD163, CD68, and ALK, while fluorescence hybridization (FISH) with second-generation sequencing (NGS) showed the ALK gene fusion with the FLCN gene variant.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCardiovascular complications in chronic active Epstein-Barr virus disease: a case report and literature review.
Front Pediatr
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education (MOE), West China Institute of Women and Children's Health, Key Laboratory of Development and Diseases of Women and Children of Sichuan Province, Department of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatric Cardiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Background: Cardiovascular involvement is a rare but severe complication of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections. Patients with chronic active EBV (CAEBV) are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular complications and have a poor prognosis. Here, we report the rare case of a pediatric patient with CAEBV and EBV- hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) complicated with a giant coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) and thrombosis, a giant Valsalva sinus aneurysm, and ascending aorta dilation seven years after the disease onset.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMycetoma is a neglected tropical disease that predominantly affects individuals in low socioeconomic strata, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. This case report describes a 20-year-old male student from Bahdo City, Somalia, who presented with a persistent cervical mass following a history of trauma. The patient exhibited vital signs within normal limits, and imaging studies, including ultrasound and computed tomography, revealed well-defined cystic masses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCopper-Induced Transgenerational Plasticity in Plant Defence Boosts Aphid Fitness.
Plant Cell Environ
January 2025
Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, University of Mainz, Mainz, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany.
Transgenerational plasticity in plants is an increasingly recognized phenomenon, yet it is mostly unclear whether transgenerational plasticity is relevant to both the fitness of the plant and its interacting species. Using monoclonal strains of the giant duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza) and its native herbivore, the waterlily aphid (Rhopalosiphum nymphaeae), we assessed whether pre-treating plants with copper excess, both indoors and outdoors, induces transgenerational plasticity in plant defences that alter plant and herbivore fitness. Outdoors, copper pre-treatment tended to increase plant growth rates under recurring copper excess.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGiant Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the Retropharyngeal Space: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.
Ear Nose Throat J
January 2025
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.
Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is an uncommon spindle cell neoplasm, which generally arises from the pleura. There have been documented a number of extrapleural origins including the head and neck in the literature. It is emphasized to make a diagnosis in a rare location such as the retropharyngeal space.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!