Successful Treatment for Severe Thyroid-associated Ophthalmopathy with Tocilizumab

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is the most common extrathyroidal manifestation of Graves disease, occasionally severe and refractory to treatment, mainly in long-term disease. In these cases, one of the most important infiltrating cytokines in the orbital tissue is interleukin-6 (IL-6). METHODS: This is a case report, the methodology consisted of the application of tocilizumab in a patient with graves disease and the patient's follow-up. RESULTS: We present the case of a 54-year-old male with TAO who responded adequately to treatment with tocilizumab, an antibody directed against the IL-6 receptor. CONCLUSION: Tocilizumab could be an optional treatment in patients with TAO.