Tocilizumab is known
for leucopenia / neutropenia as an adverse event. Recently we had to postpone
some of our patients as they had developed leucopenia. One of our nurses
supplied raw data on our patients, which I now have evaluated. Out of 51
patients 5 are treated elsewhere after initial treatment here in the clinic. One
patient died because of non-related cause. One changed to another biologic
because of failing efficacy. 39% developed any kind of leucopenia, 4 patients
had a slight leucopenia (above 3.5 und blow 4.5 /nl). 27% dipped below 3.5 /nl.
One patient developed severe leucopenia, which is persistent even more than one
year after stopping treatment.
We're very satisfied
with tocilizumab, but think we should be alerted and will keep a close eye on leucopenia/neutropenia.
18 months later (27.01.2014):
I think it’s time to
look at our cohort again.
31% developed any kind
of leucopenia, 15 patients had a slight leucopenia (above 3.5 und blow 4.5
/nl). 10% dipped below 3.5 /nl.
Neutropenia - low count of neutrophils, a special class of white blood cells
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