Successful tocilizumab therapy in seven patients with refractory adult-onset Still's disease

Abstract

To evaluate the effects of tocilizumab (TCZ) on adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD), we reviewed medical records of seven patients with refractory AOSD treated with TCZ at our institution. TCZ therapy might allow rapid corticosteroid tapering and help maintain remission status, that is, resolution of clinical symptoms and normalization of biomarkers such as CRP and ferritin. Patients, however, should be monitored for the development of macrophage activation syndrome when TCZ is administered for active AOSD.

Keywords:

• Adult-onset Still's disease
• Tocilizumab
• Macrophage activation syndrome

Acknowledgments

The present study was supported by Grants-in-Aid for Research on Intractable Diseases from the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare of Japan.

Conflict of interest

None.