ArticleCureus2025
Tocilizumab Increases Serum Lipids but Does Not Increase Arteriosclerosis, As Measured by Intima-Media Thickness, in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of proposed biosimilar RGB-19 and tocilizumab intravenously administered to adults with active rheumatoid arthritis and an inadequate response to methotrexate: a phase 3, randomised study.EULAR rheumatology open · 2026Article
- Lipid changes after interleukin-6 blockade in rheumatoid arthritis: beyond cholesterol elevation toward hepatic inflammatory-lipoprotein remodeling.Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine · 2026Review
- Association and risk factors analysis of FeNO and CRP in bronchial asthma combined with obstructive sleep apnea.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Review
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Objectives Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have a high incidence of arteriosclerotic disease. These are partly attributed to high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-6. Tocilizumab (TCZ) is an IL-6 receptor antagonist that lowers CRP levels by directly blocking IL-6 signaling. Tocilizumab has been reported to increase serum lipid levels. However, its effect on arteriosclerosis remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effect of TCZ on arteriosclerosis in patients with RA. Methods Eighteen Japanese patients with RA who were administered TCZ were included and assessed at baseline and six and 12 months. The Disease Activity Score-28 with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR), CRP, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were measured and analyzed using high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography. Additionally, the effects of concurrent statin administration on any changes in IMT were evaluated. Results From baseline to six or 12 months, TCZ decreased CRP (P < 0.0005) and DAS28-ESR (P < 0.0005) significantly, whereas TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C levels increased significantly (P < 0.005). However, there was no change in the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio (P = 0.821 at six months and P = 0.168 at 12 months), and carotid IMT (P = 0.6874 at six months and P = 0.6951 at 12 months). Comparison of percentage changes in mean IMT revealed no statistical differences between the patient groups with or without statin administration (P = 0.7208 at six months, P = 0.5928 at 12 months). Conclusions According to the 12-month observation data, no significant association was detected between TCZ use and IMT changes in patients with RA, despite its effects on serum lipids. Further long-term studies are needed to confirm that IL-6 receptor blockers have cardiovascular effects.
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