[Tocilizumab in rheumatoid arthritis]

Javier Rueda Gotor1, Ricardo Blanco Alonso

  • 1Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, España. ruedagotor@gmail.com

Reumatologia Clinica
|July 29, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Tocilizumab (TCZ) effectively treats rheumatoid arthritis (RA) across various patient groups, including those unresponsive to other therapies. This interleukin-6 receptor inhibitor demonstrates consistent efficacy, safety, and prevents structural damage, making it a valuable RA treatment option.

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