A case of refractory adult-onset Still's disease successfully controlled with tocilizumab and a review of the literature

Abstract

Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is an uncommon systemic inflammatory disease of unknown aetiology. Up to 80% of AOSD cases can be controlled with corticosteroids; however, reports on those unresponsive to corticosteroids, conventional disease modifying drugs and biological agents, including anti-IL1 inhibitors, are emerging. We present a case of AOSD with severe poylarthritis unresponsive to corticosteroids, methotrexate, anakinra and etanercept, but successfully stabilised with a humanized monoclonal anti-IL-6 receptor antibody, tocilizumab, administered once monthly. Thereafter, we compare our case with case reports available in the literature and suggest that for anakinra refractive AOSD patients with arthritis, tocilizumab could be the drug of choice.