Evaluating Takayasu arteritis (TA), one of the so-called rare diseases, we should know that this is a granulomatous vasculitis that affects large vessels, especially the aorta and its major branches, especially in young women.1 Given the infrequency of this disease, there are no controlled randomized studies. Thus, its treatment is based on retrospective observational studies.1 In patients who are refractory to conventional treatment, a marked effect by biological therapies like tocilizumab was recently reported.1,2

We describe the case of a 63-year-old woman who had a 4-year-history of TA. She initially presented with left suboccipital headache associated with ipsilateral episcleritis, an increase in acute-phase reactants, and physical examination showed differences in systolic arterial blood pressure of her two arms of more than 10mmHg, as well as, weakness in her temporal, carotid and radial pulses of her left side. The diagnostic study found relevant analytical data, including her positivity for rheumatoid factor, high C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and her testing positive for anti-Sp100 and negative for: antinuclear antibodies, extractable nuclear antigen, anti-cyclic citrullinated protein antibodies, human leukocyte antigens B7 and B52 and anti-smooth muscle antibody. She underwent magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of supraaortic arteries with the following findings: 50% stenosis of right internal carotid artery, insignificant stenoses of left internal carotid artery, left external carotid artery and partially assessed subclavian arteries. Aside from MRA of aorta, which indicated stenosis proximal to the right subclavian and, with a filiform and irregular trajectory, and left subclavian stenosis. On the other hand, whole-body positron emission tomography indicated inflammatory activity at the level of the ascending aorta, aortic arch and abdominal aorta, with no evidence of involvement at other sites. Initially the patient was treated with prednisone (initial dose was 15mg/24h) for 2 years and azathioprine was incorporated (50mg a day), to be discontinued because of an increase in her transaminases. Then, after only 1 year of corticosteroid therapy, mycophenolate mofetil was introduced at 1g/12h. She continued 1 year later in remission, but it was necessary to increase mycophenolate mofetil to 2.5g daily. Seven months later, treatment with tocilizumab was begun, which achieved the disappearance of her clinical manifestations, together with a decrease in the prednisone dose to 10mg/day.

The treatment of choice in TA is corticosteroids, although they induce an initial remission in 90% of the patients. It is estimated that approximately half of the effects will be resistant to them, and it will be necessary to add immunosuppressive agents (azathioprine, methotrexate or mycophenolate mofetil).2,3 Moreover, we should not forget the secondary toxicity of long-term corticosteroid therapy.4 The use of immunosuppressive drugs will help to decrease the corticosteroid dose to the minimum necessary.4 However, their effectiveness will not be completely demonstrated by randomized studies, taking into account that an estimated 33% of the patients treated will have relapses.5 The pathogenesis of TA involves the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor, interleukin [IL] 6), and it has been demonstrated that serum IL-6 levels are markers of the its own activity.4 For this reason, tocilizumab (a monoclonal antibody that blocks IL-6 receptor) is an effective option for the treatment of refractory TA.

One of the largest long-term studies, which deals with biological therapy in TA, indicates that, whether corticosteroid-resistant or dependent, the association with immunosuppressive agents can improve the control of the disease, and even, reduces the corticosteroid dose to the minimum necessary.2 However, relapses and the progression of vascular involvement persist. The use of tocilizumab in refractory TA is safe and effective. The clinical response is good (improvement in 83%), and it even enables reduction of the corticosteroid dose (up to 50%).2,4 Nevertheless, when the drug is discontinued, there is a reactivation of the disease, a fact that points to the need for a maintenance therapy.

Despite the good results observed with tocilizumab, studies performed to date reveal limitations. As they are retrospective, the sample size is small, and they are carried out without a control group.3,5 However, we can consider it an alternative to be studied in patients with TA that is difficult to control. In conclusion, this is a good therapeutic option, even in patients who are easy to manage. Nonetheless, multicenter randomized studies must be performed to confirm these findings.