GiACTA (tocilizumab every other week)
Trial question
What is the role of tocilizumab in patients with active giant cell arteritis?
Study design
Multi-center
Double blinded
RCT
Population
Characteristics of study participants
73.0% female
27.0% male
N = 100
100 patients (73 female, 27 male)
Inclusion criteria: patients with active giant cell arteritis and an elevated ESR
Interventions
N=50 tocilizumab (SC dose of 162 mg every other week, combined with a 26-week prednisone taper)
N=50 placebo (placebo, combined with a 26-week prednisone taper)
Primary outcome
Sustained corticosteroid-free remission at week 52
53
14
53.0 %
39.8 %
26.5 %
13.3 %
0.0 %
Tocilizumab
Placebo
Significant
increase ▲
NNT = 2
Significant increase in sustained corticosteroid-free remission at week 52 (53% vs. 14%; AD 39%, 99% CI 12 to 66)
Safety outcomes
No significant difference in adverse events.
Significant difference in serious adverse events (14% vs. 22%).
Conclusion
In patients with active giant cell arteritis and an elevated ESR, tocilizumab was superior to placebo with respect to sustained corticosteroid-free remission at week 52.
Reference
Stone JH, Tuckwell K, Dimonaco S et al. Trial of Tocilizumab in Giant-Cell Arteritis. N Engl J Med. 2017 Jul 27;377(4):317-328.
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