A case of Behçet's disease treated with a humanized anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibody, tocilizumab

Mod Rheumatol. 2012 Apr;22(2):298-302. doi: 10.1007/s10165-011-0497-5. Epub 2011 Jul 12.

Abstract

A 47-year-old female patient with Behçet's disease had been treated with colchicine, prednisolone, cyclosporine A, and infliximab. Because she relapsed, however, treatment with tocilizumab, a humanized anti-interleukin 6 receptor antibody, was started. This treatment suppressed the patient's clinical manifestations, including ocular attacks, for 1 year and improved her visual acuity. This experience indicates that tocilizumab may constitute a therapeutic option for refractory Behçet's disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use*
  • Behcet Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Behcet Syndrome / pathology
  • Colchicine / therapeutic use
  • Cyclosporine / therapeutic use
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Infliximab
  • Middle Aged
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Receptors, Interleukin-6 / immunology*
  • Remission Induction
  • Treatment Failure

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Receptors, Interleukin-6
  • Cyclosporine
  • Prednisolone
  • Infliximab
  • tocilizumab
  • Colchicine