Rheumatoid arthritis treated with tocilizumab in two patients with complicated chronic liver disease with portal hypertension

Abstract

Erosive, active rheumatoid arthritis inpatients with portal hypertension combining esophageal varices and ascites complicating chronic liver disease poses serious management problems. Current literature does not provide any valid therapeutic management. We report the case of a woman and a man aged 52 and 66 years respectively having this combination of pathologies. Infusions of 4mg/kg of tocilizumab as monotherapy have produced a weaning from corticosteroids, both clinical and structural remission, with particular liver safety satisfactory at 10 and 18 months.

Keywords: Efficacy; Portal hypertension; Rheumatoid arthritis; Safety; Tocilizumab.