Exacerbation of Ulcerative Colitis with Tocilizumab: A Report of Two Cases, One with Takayasu Arteritis and the Other with Relapsing Polychondritis

Yusuke Hanioka; Katsushu Shimizu; Keiko Yamagami; Shuhei Yao; Ryota Nakamura; Tomoyuki Nakamura; Hitoshi Goto

doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.5215-20

Exacerbation of Ulcerative Colitis with Tocilizumab: A Report of Two Cases, One with Takayasu Arteritis and the Other with Relapsing Polychondritis

Intern Med. 2021 May 15;60(10):1615-1620. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.5215-20. Epub 2020 Dec 7.

Authors

Yusuke Hanioka¹, Katsushu Shimizu¹, Keiko Yamagami¹, Shuhei Yao¹, Ryota Nakamura¹, Tomoyuki Nakamura¹, Hitoshi Goto¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka City General Hospital, Japan.

Abstract

Tocilizumab (TCZ), a biologic that blocks the signal transduction of interleukin-6, has been used for the treatment of various autoimmune diseases. Many of these cases are sometimes complicated by ulcerative colitis (UC). However, the effect of TCZ on UC is unclear. We experienced two cases with concomitant UC that were treated with TCZ, one for Takayasu arteritis (TAK) and the other for relapsing polychondritis (RP). TCZ did not improve UC in either of these cases. TCZ might have adverse effects on the intestinal tract, since interleukin-6 signaling plays an important role in intestinal epithelium maintenance. Treatment with TCZ should therefore be carefully provided in patients complicated with UC.

Keywords: Takayasu arteritis; relapsing polychondritis; tocilizumab; ulcerative colitis.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
Colitis, Ulcerative* / drug therapy
Humans
Polychondritis, Relapsing* / diagnosis
Polychondritis, Relapsing* / drug therapy
Takayasu Arteritis* / diagnosis
Takayasu Arteritis* / drug therapy

Substances

Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
tocilizumab