Tocilizumab versus Rituximab in Patients with Moderate to Severe Steroid-resistant Graves’ Orbitopathy
Amin Bennedjaï, Nacim Bouheraoua, M. Gatfossé, Laurence Dupasquier-Fediaevsky, Marie‐Hélène Errera, M. Tazartès, Vincent Borderie, Quentin Hennocq, Azeddine Dellal, Sébastien Rivière, Emmanuel Héron, O. Fain, A. Mékinian
Abstract
Introduction To describe the efficacy of tocilizumab in patients with Graves’ orbitopathy resistant or dependent to steroids and compare to rituximab treated patients.Patients and Methods Graves’s orbitopathy response was considered as decrease of at least 2 points of the CAS.Results Twenty-one patients were included, 7 patients were treated with tocilizumab and 14 with rituximab. The primary was achieved in all 7 patients (100%) on tocilizumab and 9 out of 14 patients on (64%) rituximab (p = .17). Mean change in CAS was consistent with a decrease of 3.3 ± 0.5 points in patients on tocilizumab versus 2.5 ± 1.9 in patients on rituximab (p = .07). One patient on tocilizumab (14%) and 4 patients (29%) on rituximab experienced significant relapse during the follow-up. The difference in relapse-free survival was not significant in patients on tocilizumab (10.8 ± 4 months) compared with rituximab (17.88 ± 3.66).Conclusion We showed a significant improvement in the CAS, visual acuity, diplopia, and proptosis with both tocilizumab and rituximab.