The need for further improvement of treatments for Takayasu's arteritis (TA), the progress in understanding the mechanisms of the disease, and the introduction of biological agents (BA) in rheumatology practice have created preconditions for developing a new TA pharmacotherapy using BA associated with interleukin 6 (IL-6) inhibition.

The authors describe their two own cases of tocilizumab (TCZ) use for complicated TA. In one case with a long history of complicated TA and glucocorticosteroid intolerance, the use of TCZ contributed to the control of disease activity. In the other case with the onset of TA and focal pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) treated with anti-TB drugs during TCZ monotherapy for 6 months could control TA and achieve TB cure.

The use of IL-6 inhibitors should be considered as a potentially effective and relatively safe innovative (off-label) treatment for refractory TA in patients with intolerance or contraindications to standard therapy, which requires further larger randomized clinical trials.

Nonspecific aortoarteritis, Takayasu's arteritis, interleukin 6

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