Tocilizumab in cranial and extracranial giant cell arteritis: a national multicentre study of 471 cases
Authors: Blanco Ricardo , Aldasoro Vicente , Maiz Olga , Melero Rafael , Romero-Yuste Susana , de Miguel Eugenio , Ferraz-Amaro Iván , López-Gutiérrez Fernando , Castañeda Santos , Loricera Javier ,   Tocilizumab in Giant Cell Arteritis Spanish Collaborative Group, Narváez Javier , Moriano Clara , Vela Paloma , Callejas José L , Villa Juan Ignacio , Galíndez-Agirregoikoa Eva , Sivera Francisca , Fernández-López Jesús C , Galisteo Carles , Nieto Juan C González , Sánchez-Martín Julio , de Dios Juan R , Fernández Esther , de la Morena Isabel , Moya Patricia , Laqué Roser Solans i , Pampín Eva Pérez , Andréu José L , Revenga Marcelino , Quiroga-Colina Patricia , Labrador Eztizen , García-Valle Andrea , Gallego Adela , Iñíguez Carlota , Álvarez-Rivas Noelia , Hidalgo Cristina , Garrido-Puñal Noemí , López-González Ruth , Román-Ivorra José A , Ortiz-Sanjuán Francisco Miguel , Manrique Sara , Collado Paz , Raya Enrique , Pinillos Valvanera , Navarro Francisco , Olivé-Marqués Alejandro , Toyos Francisco J , Rojas María L Marena , Más Antoni Juan , Arca Beatriz , Ordás-Calvo Carmen , Boquet María D , Velloso-Feijoo María L , Campos Cristina , Rúa-Figueroa Íñigo , García Antonio , Vázquez Carlos , Lluch Pau , Torres Carmen , Luna Cristina , Becerra Elena , Fernández-Llanio Nagore , Conesa Arantxa , Salgado Eva 
Published: December 2024

Objective

The spectrum of GCA includes various vascular phenotypes. Tocilizumab (TCZ) is the only biologic therapy currently approved, regardless of phenotype. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of TCZ in various phenotypes.

Methods

This is a multicentre observational study of GCA patients treated with TCZ. They were divided into three phenotypes: (i) cranial (cGCA), (ii) extracranial GCA (ecGCA) and (iii) mixed GCA (mixGCA). Outcomes included clinical remission, EULAR complete remission, relapses, absence of inflammation as shown using imaging techniques, and safety.

Results

We studied 471 patients (342 women; mean age 74.0 ± 9.0 years). The phenotypic distribution was: cGCA (n = 217; 46%), mixGCA (174; 37%) and ecGCA (80; 17%). Patients with ecGCA were younger (66.5 ± 10.1 years) than those with cGCA (74.8 ± 8.1) and those with mixGCA (71.4 ± 8.5), and had a longer delayed GCA diagnosis {median [interquartile range (IQR) [6 (1–14)] vs 1 (1–3) vs 2 (1–6) months, respectively}. Systemic manifestations were similar in the three groups, while ischaemic manifestations were more frequent in cGCA. Combined TCZ, in addition to glucocorticoids, was used more frequently in ecGCA (36%). Clinical remission was observed in 51%/43%/47% in cGCA/ecGCA/mixGCA, respectively, after the first month, and in 79%/81%/89% after 24 months. Complete EULAR remission in 35%/27%/28% (after 1 month) and 72%/73%/67% (after 24 months). Absence of inflammation being shown in the imaging techniques was 15%/26% after 12 months, and 22%/7% (ecGCA/mixGCA) (after 24 months). Relevant adverse events were observed in 109 (23.1%) patients.

Conclusion

TCZ shows rapid and maintained effectiveness in all GCA phenotypes in clinical remission and EULAR complete remission. By contrast, absence of inflammation as shown using imaging techniques was much lower in ecGCA and mixGCA.