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Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics ›› 2018, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (12): 1386-1391.doi: 10.12092/j.issn.1009-2501.2018.12.012

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Short-term clinical observation of moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis treated with tocilizumab combined with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs

CHEN Lanfang, QIANG Fuyong, XU Liang   

  1. Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241001, Anhui, China
  • Received:2018-08-15 Revised:2018-09-16 Online:2018-12-26 Published:2018-12-27

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Abstract:

AIM: To study the clinical efficacy and adverse reactions of tocilizumab combined with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in the treatment of moderate-to-severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for 12 weeks. METHODS: Twenty patients with moderate-to-severe active RA were treated with 8 mg/kg of tocilizumab at 0, 4th, and 8th week and treated with DMARDs. The effects and adverse reactions were observed at 4th week, 8th week and 12th week. The observed indicators were erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF), hemoglobin, platelet, DAS28, hepatic function, renal function, ACR20, ACR50, overall evaluation of the patient and physician to disease. RESULTS: Compared with baseline, ESR, CRP, RF and platelet counts in 20 RA patients were significantly decreased at 4th week, 8th week, and 12th week, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01); DAS28 was significantly improved at 4th week of treatment, and further improved at 8th week of treatment, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01); and hemoglobin increased significantly at 4th weeks, and further increased at 12th week, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). The overall evaluation scores of the patients and doctors decreased continuously, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01); At 8th week and 12th week, ACR20 reached 90%, 95%, and ACR50 reached 80%, 90%; 1 of 20 patients appeared upper respiratory tract infection, there were no liver, kidney and hypersensitivity reactions. CONCLUSION: Tocilizumab combined with DMARDs in the treatment of RA within a short period of time improve the patient's symptoms, signs and inflammation indicators with no significant adverse reactions occurred.

Key words: tocilizumab, rheumatoid arthritis, clinical efficacy

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