OBJECTIVES: Patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) often respond to 
corticosteroid (CS) therapy; however, the majority of patients relapse when CS 
therapy is tapered or withdrawn. The purpose of this study was to assess the 
efficacy of tocilizumab (TCZ) in patients with relapsing GCA.
METHODS: Four patients with relapsing GCA received TCZ monthly (4mg/kg or 
8mg/kg). Disease activity and drug tolerability were evaluated clinically and 
via laboratory test results at the beginning of the study and every 3 months 
until the publication of this study. All four patients were still receiving TCZ 
monthly at the time of manuscript submission.
RESULTS: All four patients treated with TCZ achieved clinical and laboratory 
response. No adverse events were detected.
CONCLUSIONS: In our small case series, TCZ was efficacious and well tolerated in 
patients with relapsing GCA. Proper randomised controlled trials are required to 
achieve confident conclusions regarding the safety and efficacy of TCZ in GCA.