RHEUMATOID NODULE DEVELOPMENT DURING TOCILIZUMAB-INDUCED RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS REMISSION
MARCO ROSSI *
Centre of Pharmacovigilance, University Hospital of Siena, Siena, Italy
MAURO GALEAZZI
Rheumatology Unit, University Hospital of Siena, Siena, Italy
STEFANIA MANGANELLI
Rheumatology Unit, University Hospital of Siena, Siena, Italy
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
At present the effect of monoclonal antibodies on rheumatoid nodules remains poorly understood. Several cases of development or enlargement of rheumatoid nodules in association with TNF-α inhibitors have been described in the medical literature. Recently three cases of regression of rheumatoid nodules following tocilizumab have been published. We describe a 55-year-old female patient with long-standing rheumatoid arthritis, who developed an olecranon nodule during tocilizumab-induced rheumatoid arthritis remission.
Keywords: rheumatoid nodule, tocilizumab, rheumatoid arthritis, interleukin-6