To the Editor:
Tocilizumab (TCZ), a monoclonal antibody directed against interleukin 6 (IL-6) receptor, exerts powerful inhibition of IL-6 and demonstrates antiinflammatory properties. This biologic agent is used in chronic inflammatory diseases1. We describe 2 cases of onset of inflammatory eye disease under TCZ therapy.
Case 1
A 41-year-old man with defined axial HLA-B27-positive ankylosing spondylitis (AS, according to the modified New York criteria2) for 8 years was refractory to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, steroids, pamidronate, and 3 tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers (infliximab, etanercept, adalimumab). TCZ was initiated (8 mg/kg per month). Between the second and third infusion, a first episode of acute …
Address correspondence to Prof. Wendling; E-mail: dwendling{at}chu-besancon.fr