Tocilizumab dramatically ameliorated life-threatening diarrhea due to secondary amyloidosis associated with rheumatoid arthritis

Clin Rheumatol. 2009 Sep;28(9):1113-6. doi: 10.1007/s10067-009-1185-0. Epub 2009 May 13.

Abstract

Severe diarrhea improved dramatically with administration of the humanized anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibody tocilizumab (TCZ) in a patient with secondary reactive amyloidosis, which was associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A 53-year-old woman with RA went into hypovolemic shock because of severe watery diarrhea associated with gastrointestinal amyloidosis. The high-dose prednisolone therapy and glucocorticoid pulse therapy did not improve her intractable diarrhea. After TCZ administration, the life-threatening diarrhea lessened in about 6 h, and her vital signs became stable the next day. Perforation of the small intestine, however, occurred 2 days after TCZ administration. Whether TCZ could have been involved in the perforation in such a short time is unknown. Surgery was successful, and the patient recovered. TCZ may work immediately in diarrhea associated with secondary amyloidosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amyloidosis / complications*
  • Amyloidosis / pathology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / complications*
  • Biopsy
  • Diarrhea / drug therapy*
  • Diarrhea / etiology*
  • Diarrhea / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
  • Receptors, Interleukin-6 / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Receptors, Interleukin-6
  • tocilizumab