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Updated: Oct 11, 2025

An Immunohistopathologic Study to Profile the Folate Receptor Beta Macrophage and Vascular Immune Microenvironment in Giant Cell Arteritis
Published on: February 8, 2019
A young girl with severe polyarteritis nodosa successfully treated with tocilizumab: a case report
Margaux Boistault1, Mireia Lopez Corbeto2, Pierre Quartier3,4
1Department of Pediatric Immunology-Hematology and Rheumatology, Necker University Hospital - Assitance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris, Enfants Malades,149, rue de Sèvres, 75015, Paris, France.
Background:
Childhood Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a systemic vasculitis with necrotizing inflammation of medium- and small-sized arteries. Disease evolution may be severe and refractory to standard treatment including prednisone, azathioprine and cyclophosphamide.
Case Presentation:
We present the case of a young girl with severe PAN resulting in progressive ischemia and necrosis of fingers and toes. Biological work-up revealed increased acute phase reactants and interleukin-6 levels. She was only partially controlled despite high-dose corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide infusions, and eventually achieved rapid improvement and sustained remission on tocilizumab. Further, we review the current evidence of the interleukin-6-inhibitor tocilizumab for the treatment of PAN.
Conclusion:
Tocilizumab may be an efficient therapeutic option in a subset of treatment-refractory children with PAN.
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