[Efficacy and safety of tocilizumab in patients with Takayasu arteritis]

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of tocilizumab and cyclophosphamide in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA). Methods: Twenty-seven TA patients treated with tocilizumab (TCZ group) and 22 treated with cyclophosphamide (CTX group) were enrolled and retrospectively analyzed. The duration of treatment was 6 months. Disease activity and side effects were compared between the two groups. Results: After treatment, the median C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and disease activity scores in TCZ group were significantly lower than those in CTX group respectively [ESR 3 mm/1h vs. 8 mm/1h; CRP 0.13 mg/L vs. 1.09 mg/L; National Institutes of Health (NIH) score 0(0,1) vs. 0(1,1); the Indian Takayasu clinical activity score (ITAS 2010) 0(0,2) vs. 2(0,3.5), and the Indian Takayasu activity score with the acute phase response (ITAS-A) 0(0,2) vs. 2.5(0,3.5); all P<0.05]. The daily prednisone doses before treatment and after treatment in TCZ group were significantly lower than those in CTX group [(20.1±15.9) mg/d vs. (39.3±16.7) mg/d;(5.1±4.2)mg/d vs. (12.1±4.6) mg/d,both P<0.05)].The incidence of drug-related side effects in TCZ group was significantly lower than that in CTX group, which was 22.2% vs. 54.5% (P<0.05). Conclusion: Compared with CTX treatment, TCZ treatment for TA with less prednisone has better efficacy and safety.