Clinical and biological efficacy of tocilizumab in giant cell arteritis: report of three patients and literature review

Background: Treatment of giant cell arteritis is based on prolonged corticosteroid therapy but adverse side effects are common especially in the elderly.

Methods: We report three patients with giant cell vasculitis treated by tocilizumab, an interleukin-6 receptor antibody, owing to resistance or intolerance to corticosteroid therapy. A favorable outcome was rapidly observed both on clinical and biological data allowing a corticoid therapy sparing.

Conclusions: Tocilizumab is a promising treatment of giant cell arteritis but controlled trials are needed to confirm its efficacy.