Anti-IL-6 Receptor Monoclonal Antibody Curbs Juvenile Arthritis

March 28, 2005

By

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Mar 28 - Treatment with a recombinant human

monoclonal antibody (MRA) directed against the interleukin 6 (IL-6)

receptor leads to clinical improvement in children with systemic-onset

juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), Japanese researchers report in the

March issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism.

In fact, lead investigator Dr. Shumpei Yokota told Reuters Health, " as

IL-6 is the effector molecule in active inflammation mediated by

proinflammatory cytokines, (IL-6 MRA) may be efficacious for recurrent

acute-type inflammatory processes such as Kawasaki disease, Castleman

disease... and so forth. "

In the current study, Dr. Yokota of Yokohama City University School of

Medicine and colleagues conducted an individual escalating-dose trial

of the IL-6 MRA in eleven JIA patients who were refractory to treatment

with high-dose, long-term corticosteroids.

They initially received an intravenous dose of 2 mg/per kg. At 2- week

intervals this dose was repeated or raised to 4 or 8 mg/kg, depending

on disease control.

In ten of the children, MRA " abruptly reduced disease activity " in

terms of febrile episodes, active arthritis scores and levels of

C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

In all, 2 weeks after the third fixed dose, these ten children had at

least a 50% improvement and seven achieved a 70% improvement.

The researchers call for further studies, but conclude that their

" experience with MRA strongly suggests that it is a promising and

powerful therapeutic modality. "

Arthritis Rheum 2005;52:818-825.

a

Recommended Posts