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  • Title: Efficacy and tolerability of six-week extended dosing interval with tocilizumab therapy in a prospective cohort as remission maintenance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
    Author: Kikuchi J, Kondo T, Shibata A, Sakai R, Okada Y, Chino K, Okuyama A, Kurasawa T, Takei H, Amano K.
    Journal: Mod Rheumatol; 2018 May; 28(3):444-451. PubMed ID: 28849709.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVES: To prospectively evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a six-week extended dosing interval with tocilizumab (TCZ) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in sustained remission. METHODS: Patients who received over six doses of intravenous TCZ in clinical remission (disease activity score [DAS] 28 - erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR] ≤ 2.6) maintained over 3 months between December 2013 and December 2015 were included. Flare was defined as DAS28-ESR >3.2 at two consecutive visits. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were enrolled; 87.5% achieved clinical remission at week 54 after six-week extension and 95.5% achieved a van der Heijde modified total Sharp score (ΔmTSS) ≤0.5. The Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) did not increase during 54 weeks. HAQ-DI at baseline and ΔDAS28-ESR at week six positively correlated with increase in DAS28-ESR at week 54. ΔSwollen joint count at week six positively correlated with ΔmTSS at week 54. A total of 12 adverse events occurring in 10 patients did not lead to cessation of TCZ except for one case of recurrent lymphoproliferative disorder at week five. CONCLUSION: A six-week extended dosing interval of TCZ for patients with RA in sustained remission is proposed as an acceptable treatment option for maintaining efficacy and tolerability.
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