Efficacy of tocilizumab in Takayasu arteritis: Multicenter retrospective study of 46 patients

To assess the efficacy of tocilizumab in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA).

We conducted a retrospective multicenter study in 46 TA patients treated with tocilizumab. We analyzed factors associated with response to tocilizumab (assessed using NIH score).

Forty-six patients with TA were included, with a median age of 43 years [29-54], and 35 (76%) females. We observed a decrease in the median NIH scale (from 3 [2-3] at baseline to 0 [0-1] and 0 at 3 and 6 months, respectively; p < 0.0001). The daily prednisone dose also decreased from 15 mg [8-19] at baseline to 4 mg [5-21] and 5 mg [4.5-9] at 3 and 6 months, respectively (p < 0.0001) under tocilizumab. The overall tocilizumab failure free survival was 81% [CI 95%; 0.7-0.95], 72% [CI 95%; 0.55-0.95] and 48% [CI 95%; 0.2-0.1] at 12, 24 and 48 months, respectively. The presence of constitutional symptoms (HR 5.6 [CI 95%; 1.08-29], p = 0.041), and C-reactive protein level (HR 1.16 [CI 95%; 1.01-1.31], P = 0.003) at the time of tocilizumab initiation were significantly associated with tocilizumab event-free survival. The event-free survival was significantly better under tocilizumab therapy in comparison to DMARDs (p = 0.02).

This large multicenter study shows that tocilizumab is efficient and may reduce the incidence of relapses in TA.