Utility of tocilizumab in autoimmune eye diseases

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Publicated to:EXPERT OPINION ON BIOLOGICAL THERAPY. 22 (6): 789-799 - 2022-04-22 22(6), DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2022.2066971

Authors: Atienza-Mateo, B; Prieto-Peña, D; Blanco, R; González-Gay, MA; Vicente-Rabaneda, EF; Castañeda, S

Affiliations

Cardiovascular Pathophysiology and Genomics Research Unit, School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. - Author

Department of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cátedra UAM-Roche, EPID-Future, Madrid, Spain. - Author

Department of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain. - Author

Hosp Princesa, Rheumatol Div, IIS Princesa, Calle Diego Leon 62, Madrid 28006, Spain - Author

Hosp Univ Marques Valdecilla, Rheumatol Div, IDIVAL, Santander, Spain - Author

Rheumatology Division, Hospital de La Princesa, IIS-Princesa, Madrid, Spain. - Author

Rheumatology Division, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, IDIVAL, Santander, Spain. - Author

Univ Autonoma Madrid, Dept Med, Catedra UAM ROCHE, EPID Future, Madrid, Spain - Author

Univ Cantabria, Dept Med, Santander, Spain - Author

Univ Witwatersrand, Sch Physiol, Cardiovasc Pathophysiol & Genom Res Unit, Fac Hlth Sci, Johannesburg, South Africa - Author

Abstract

Autoimmune eye diseases (AED) are inflammatory eye conditions caused by dysregulation of the immune system at the ocular level. Among them, the most representative is noninfectious uveitis, which can be limited to the eye or associated with various systemic autoimmune diseases. Other conditions include peripheral ulcerative keratitis, Graves' orbitopathy, and some forms of optic neuropathy. Glucocorticoids are the cornerstone of treatment for most AEDs. However, conventional and/or biologic immunosuppressive drugs are often required to achieve clinical remission and reduce adverse events related to long-term glucocorticoid therapy.To summarize all the available evidence on the use of the anti-interleukin-6 tocilizumab receptor (TCZ) for the different AEDs.The heterogeneity of the reported studies and the relatively small number of prospective randomized clinical trials make it difficult to establish robust guidelines on the positioning of TCZ in the treatment of AEDs. However, based on our own experience and the growing number of published studies, we are in favor of the use of TCZ as an effective and safe alternative for patients with severe and/or refractory AEDs. We highlight the efficacy of TCZ in patients with optic neuropathy related to giant cell arteritis, noninfectious uveitis, and Graves´ orbitopathy.

Keywords

anti-il6-receptor antibodiesbiologic therapycystoid macular edemagraves orbitopathygraves' orbitopathyintravenous tocilizumabjuvenile idiopathic arthritisneuromyelitis optica spectrum disordersnoninfectious uveitisoptic neuropathyperipheral ulcerative keratitisreceptor tocilizumabrheumatoid-arthritissubcutaneous tocilizumabtocilizumabvisual involvementAnti-il6-receptor antibodiesAntibodies, monoclonal, humanizedAutoimmune diseaseAutoimmune eye diseasesClinical trialComplicationDrug useEndocrine ophthalmopathyEye diseaseGiant-cell arteritisGraves ophthalmopathyGraves’ orbitopathyHumanHumansMonoclonal antibodyMulticenter study (topic)Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disordersNoninfectious uveitisOptic nerve diseaseOptic nerve diseasesOptic neuropathyPeripheral ulcerative keratitisPhase 1 clinical trial (topic)Phase 2 clinical trial (topic)Prospective studiesProspective studyRandomized controlled trial (topic)Retina macula cystoid edemaReviewTocilizumabUveitisVasculitis

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Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal EXPERT OPINION ON BIOLOGICAL THERAPY due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency Scopus (SJR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2022, it was in position , thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Pharmacology.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations from Scopus Elsevier, it yields a value for the Field-Weighted Citation Impact from the Scopus agency: 1.52, which indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 3.32 (source consulted: Dimensions Jun 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-06-27, the following number of citations:

WoS: 4
Scopus: 7

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Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: South African Republic.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: Last Author (CASTAÑEDA SANZ, SANTOS).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been CASTAÑEDA SANZ, SANTOS.

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