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ABSTRACT: Background
People with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) are at increased risk for comorbidities, and plasma interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels are among the most robust predictors of these outcomes. Tocilizumab (TCZ) blocks the receptor for IL-6, inhibiting functions of this cytokine.Methods
This was a 40-week, placebo-controlled, crossover trial (NCT02049437) where PWH on stable antiretroviral therapy (ART) were randomized to receive 3 monthly doses of TCZ or matching placebo intravenously. Following a 10-week treatment period and a 12-week washout, participants were switched to the opposite treatment. The primary endpoints were safety and posttreatment levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and CD4+ T-cell cycling. Secondary endpoints included changes in inflammatory indices and lipid levels.Results
There were 9 treatment-related toxicities of grade 2 or greater during TCZ administration (mostly neutropenia) and 2 during placebo administration. Thirty-one of 34 participants completed the study and were included in a modified intent-to-treat analysis. TCZ reduced levels of CRP (median decrease, 1819.9 ng/mL, P < .0001; effect size, 0.87) and reduced inflammatory markers in PWH, including D-dimer, soluble CD14, and tumor necrosis factor receptors. T-cell cycling tended to decrease in all maturation subsets after TCZ administration, but was only significant among naive CD4 T cells. Lipid levels, including lipid classes that have been related to cardiovascular disease risk, increased during TCZ treatment.Conclusions
TCZ is safe and decreases inflammation in PWH; IL-6 is a key driver of the inflammatory environment that predicts morbidity and mortality in ART-treated PWH. The clinical significance of lipid elevations during TCZ treatment requires further study. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT02049437.
SUBMITTER: Funderburg NT
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10371305 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Funderburg Nicholas T NT Shive Carey L CL Chen Zhengyi Z Tatsuoka Curtis C Bowman Emily R ER Longenecker Chris T CT McComsey Grace A GA Clagett Brian M BM Dorazio Dominic D Freeman Michael L ML Sieg Scott F SF Moisi Daniela D Anthony Donald D DD Jacobson Jeffrey M JM Stein Sharon L SL Calabrese Leonard H LH Landay Alan A Flexner Charles C Crawford Keith W KW Capparelli Edmund V EV Rodriguez Benigno B Lederman Michael M MM
Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America 20230701 2
<h4>Background</h4>People with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) are at increased risk for comorbidities, and plasma interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels are among the most robust predictors of these outcomes. Tocilizumab (TCZ) blocks the receptor for IL-6, inhibiting functions of this cytokine.<h4>Methods</h4>This was a 40-week, placebo-controlled, crossover trial (NCT02049437) where PWH on stable antiretroviral therapy (ART) were randomized to receive 3 monthly doses of TCZ or matching placebo intrave ...[more]