Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Combined with Erosive Arthritis was Treated Successfully with Tocilizumab: A Case Report

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune inflammatory disease that frequently involves the joints at some stage during the disease course. Although lupus arthritis is usually non-erosive, approximately 5% of patients develop erosions. This paper reports a patient with SLE combined with erosive arthritis, who was treated successfully with tocilizumab. A 20-year-old female, who was first diagnosed with SLE at the age of 13 years, had been admitted frequently to hospital with disease flare-ups during the previous 3 years. Despite aggressive treatment, her arthritis became aggravated, particularly in both wrists and the right knee. Radiologically, erosive arthritis was noted in the wrists.The serum interleukin (IL)-6 level was elevated significantly along with the other inflammatory markers. After the tocilizumab treatment, the arthritis subsided with a normalization of the IL-6 level, suggesting that tocilizumab may be a suitable treatment for lupus erosive arthritis if the IL-6 level is high.