Table 2

Clinical features of patients with giant cell arteritis treated by TCZ

Author/referenceNAge (years)/ sexImmunosuppressive agent before starting TCZPrednisone-equivalent/day before starting TCZTCZ dosage and duration of treatmentResultsOnset of responseAdverse events
Kieffer et al29373, F
70, F
7, F
MTX=2 (15 mg/week)
anti-TNFα=1
6–30 mg8 mg/kg
3–17 months
Remission1–2 months1 death caused by cardiogenic shock and septicaemia
Vinit et al30163, FMTX (20 mg/week)20 mg8 mg/kg
3 months
Remission1 monthNo
Unizony et al24769 (NA)MTX=3 (dosage ND)
AZA=1
anti-TNFα=2
CYC=3
20 mg8 mg/kg (4 mg/kg in 2 cases)
ND
Remission2–3 monthsLeucopaenia N=4 liver cytolysis
N=4
Death (myocardial infarction) N=1
Beyer et al31379, F
72, F
71, F
AZA=1, mycophenolate mofetil=130 mg8 mg/kg
6 months
RemissionRapid (no precision)NA
Seitz et al32570 (mean)
3F, 2 M
No30 mg8 mg/kg
4–7 months
Remission2 monthsNo
Christidis et al33163, FMTX (dosage ND), AZA60 mg8 mg/kg
6 months
Remission1 monthneutropaenia
Evans et al34870 (mean)
4 F, 4 M
LFM N=324.6 mg8 mg/kg
34 months
Clinical improvement
N=1
ND1 neutropaenia
1 infection (empyema)
Loricera et al352269 (mean)
17F, 5 M
Immunosuppressive drugs=19 (MTX=18 dosage ND; AZA=1; LFM=1)
Anti-TNFα N=2
RTX=1
ABA=1
26 mg8 mg/kg
12 months
Clinical improvement
N=20
No change in visual impairment N=2
1 month1 death (stroke)
2 neutropaenia
1 pneumonia
Régent et al363470.5 (mean)
27 F, 7 M
Immunosuppressive drugs=20 (MTX=18 dosage ND; AZA=1; LFM=1; dapsone=1)
anti-TNFα N=4
anti-IL-1=1
26 mg8 mg/kg (4 mg/kg
N=1)
13 months
Responders
N=28
Non-responders
N=6
1–2 monthsNeutropaenia
N=3
infections N=2 (one death due to septic shock)
liver cytolysis
N=1
Villiger et al3730 (20 TCZ
10 placebo)
70 (mean)
21 F, 9 M
No0.1 mg/kg8 mg/kg
12 months
Remission
TCZ 80%
Placebo 20%
NATCZ: pyloric ulcer perforation
N=1
Gastrointestinal bleeding
N=1
Viral hepatitis
N=1
  • ABA, abatacept; AZA, azathioprine; CYC, cyclophosphamide; F, female; IL, interleukin; LFM, leflunomide; M, male; MTX, methotrexate; NA, not available; RTX, rituximab; TCZ, tocilizumab.