Devauchelle-Pensec V, Berthelot JM, Cornec D, Renaudineau Y, Marhadour T, Jousse-Joulin S, Querellou S, Garrigues F, De Bandt M, Gouillou M, Saraux A. Efficacy of first-line tocilizumab therapy in early polymyalgia rheumatica: a prospective longitudinal study.
Ann Rheum Dis 2016;
75:1506-10. [PMID:
26929219 PMCID:
PMC4975852 DOI:
10.1136/annrheumdis-2015-208742]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 01/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background
Glucocorticoids are the cornerstone treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) but induce adverse events.
Objectives
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of first-line tocilizumab in PMR.
Methods
In a prospective open-label study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01713842), 20 glucocorticoid-free patients fulfilling Chuang's PMR criteria, with symptom onset within the last 12 months and a PMR activity score (PMR-AS) >10, each received three tocilizumab infusions at 4-week intervals, without glucocorticoids, followed by oral prednisone from weeks 12 to 24 (0.15 mg/kg if PMR-AS ≤10 and 0.30 mg/kg otherwise). The primary end point was the proportion of patients with PMR-AS≤10 at week 12.
Results
Baseline median PMR-AS was 36.6 (IQR 30.4–43.8). At week 12, all patients had PMR-AS≤10 and received the low prednisone dosage. Median PMR-AS at weeks 12 and 24 was 4.5 (3.2–6.8) and 0.95 (IQR 0.4–2), respectively (p<0.001 vs baseline for both time points). No patient required rescue treatment. Positron emission tomography-CT showed significant improvements. The most common adverse events were transient neutropenia (n=3) and leucopenia (n=5); in one patient, the second tocilizumab infusion was omitted due to leucopenia.
Conclusions
Tocilizumab monotherapy is effective in recent-onset PMR. Randomised controlled trials are warranted.
Trial registration number
NCT01713842.
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