Effective desensitization in an IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reaction to tocilizumab in neuromyelitis optica.

Neuromyelitis optica is a rare, inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Tocilizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody, which targets the inhibition of the interleukin-6 receptor, a mediator with an important role in the pathophysiological mechanism of neuromyelitis optica. Hypersensitivity reactions to tocilizumab are rare, but similar to other biological drugs can elicit a hypersensitivity reaction.