Table 2.
Changes in body composition during tocilizumab treatment in rheumatoid arthritis.
| Author (Reference) | Patients (N) | Age (Years) | Disease Duration | Inflammatory Joint Disease | Sex Ratio | Study Design | Study Duration | IL-6i | Body Composition Assessment | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Younis [39] | 21 | 52 | NA | RA | NA | controlled trial | 4 months | 21 TCZ, 16 IFX | NA | ↑ body weight and BMI (+0.3 unit). No changes under IFX |
| Hugo [40] | 16 | 57.2 | 13 years | RA | 14 F, 2 M | open label | 3 months | TCZ | DEXA | No changes in body weight, body composition |
| Tournadre [41] | 21 | 57.8 | 8.5 years | RA | 16F, 4 M | open label | 12 months | TCZ | DEXA | ↑ body weight, ↑ BMI, ↑ lean mass and fat free mass. No change in fat mass |
| Toussirot [42] | 106 | 56.6 | 9.9 years | RA | 78 F, 28 M | open label | 12 months | TCZ | DEXA | ↑ BMI, ↑ lean mass. No change in fat mass |
(RA: rheumatoid arthritis; BMI: body mass index; M: male; F: female; IL6i: interleukin-6 inhibitor; TCZ: tocilizumab; IFX: infliximab; DEXA: dual X-ray absorptiometry; NA: not available).