PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Natalia Cabrera
AU  - Agnes Duquesne
AU  - Marine Desjonquères
AU  - Jean-Paul Larbre
AU  - Jean-Christophe Lega
AU  - Nicole Fabien
AU  - Alexandre Belot
TI  - Tocilizumab in the treatment of mixed connective tissue disease and overlap syndrome in children
AID  - 10.1136/rmdopen-2016-000271
DP  - 2016 Sep 01
TA  - RMD Open
PG  - e000271
VI  - 2
IP  - 2
4099  - http://rmdopen.bmj.com/content/2/2/e000271.short
4100  - http://rmdopen.bmj.com/content/2/2/e000271.full
SO  - RMD Open2016 Sep 01; 2
AB  - Arthritis is one of the main manifestations of mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) and overlap syndrome in children and can be responsible for functional disability. We report on 2 children with arthritis that were dramatically improved by a treatment with interleukin-6 (IL-6) blockers in the context of connective tissue disease. However, in both cases, other systemic autoimmune symptoms were not modified by the treatment and autoantibodies tend to increase, suggesting a differential effect of IL-6 inhibition on articular inflammation and systemic autoimmunity.