Abstract
For the past six decades, glucocorticoids have been the cornerstone therapy for patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA). However, glucocorticoid therapy leads to significant toxicity in over 80% of the patients.
Various steroid-sparing immunosuppressive agents have been tried, but robust scientific evidence of their efficacy and safety is still lacking. An unmet need exists for effective glucocorticoid-sparing agents for the treatment of giant cell arteritis (GCA).
Tocilizumab is the first intervention to demonstrate substantial therapeutic benefits for patients with newly diagnosed or relapsing GCA.