Case Report
Risk of significant cytopenias after treatment with tocilizumab in systemic juvenile arthritis patients with a history of macrophage activation syndrome
1 Division of Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
2 Children’s Corporate Center, Suite C465 9000 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
Pediatric Rheumatology 2012, 10:30 doi:10.1186/1546-0096-10-30
Published: 29 August 2012Abstract
Tocilizumab (TCZ) is the first FDA- approved treatment for systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA). We report 3 cases of cytopenias in children with sJIA treated with TCZ. Two of the children who developed significant cytopenias shortly after initiation of TCZ had a history of macrophage activation syndrome. We raise the possibility that patients with a tendency towards MAS have an increased risk of developing cytopenias when treated with tocilizumab.
