Shortening dose interval of subcutaneous tocilizumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

• Published in: Clinical Rheumatology and Related Research Vol. 32; no. 3; pp. 194 - 200
• Main Authors: Tanaka, Yasushi, Shiozawa, Kazuko, Murata, Miki, Uefuji, Atsuo, Yoshihara, Ryosuke, Nakagawa, Natsuko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Japanese Society for Clinical Rheumatology and Related Research 2020; 一般社団法人 日本臨床リウマチ学会
• Subjects: dose interval; rheumatoid arthritis; shortening injection period; subcutaneous; tocilizumab
• ISSN: 0914-8760; 2189-0595
• DOI: 10.14961/cra.32.194

Objective: To examine the status of rheumatoid arthritis（RA）patients who received shortening dosing interval of subcutaneous tocilizumab（TCZ-SC）.Subjects and methods: We retrospectively investigated RA patients treated with shortening TCZ-SC dose interval at Rheumatology & Collagen Disease Center of our hospital as of 2018. Clinical parameters such as MMP-3, CRP, ESR, PtGA-VAS and CDAI were respectively examined before shortening the TCZ-SC dose interval and approximately 8 weeks later.Result: Shortening of the dosing interval of TCZ-SC was initiated in 11 RA patients. It was extended to every other week in 3 of the patients after achieving the treatment goal, and effectiveness was maintained. In some cases, we confirmed the Prednisolone（PSL）could be tapered or discontinued by shortening the dosing interval. Serum MMP-3 levels were significantly reduced by shortening the TCZ-SC dosing interval. Also, other clinical parameters were improved.Conclusion: Shortening the dosing interval of TCZ-SC should be considered as a valuable and effective treatment to try before switching to other biologics. It was also suggested that the dosing interval could be extended to every other week after achieving the treatment goal by shortening dosing interval of TCZ-SC.