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How do you manage a patient with giant cell arteritis treated with weekly tocilizumab and low dose glucocorticoid who develops sudden vision loss?

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How do you manage a patient with giant cell arteritis treated with weekly tocilizumab and low dose glucocorticoid (GC) who develops sudden vision loss?

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2 Answers
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Rheumatology · Harvard Medical School
Answered on

Fortunately, this scenario is a rare event, as most patients treated with ongoing tocilizumab (TCZ) and prednisone are at a far lower risk for developing new visual loss due to giant cell arteritis (GCA). A recent paper by Amsler et al., PMID 33752737 reviewing the risk for visual loss in patients b...

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Mednet Member
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Rheumatology · Saint Clare's Health
Answered on

As mentioned, it would be unexpected and rare to see vision loss, happening to a patient on the steroids and Actemra. The referral to a neuro-ophthalmologist, or probably their usual ophthalmologist in the interest of time if necessary, would be the first step, because I would want to rely on other ...

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