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Objective@#To evaluate the perspective of healthcare professionals towards the 2019 European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) vaccination guideline in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD). @*Methods@#Healthcare professionals who care for patients with AIIRD were invited to participate in an online survey regarding their perspective on the 2019 update of the EULAR recommendations for vaccination in adult patients with AIIRD. Level of agreement and implementation of the 6 overarching principles and 9 recommendations were rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1~5). @*Results@#Survey responses of 371 healthcare professionals from Asia (42.2%) and North America (41.6%), Europe (13.8%), and other countries were analyzed. Only 16.3% of participants rated their familiarity with the 2019 EULAR guideline as 5/5 (“very well”). There was a high agreement (≥4/5 rating) with the overarching principles, except for the principles applying to liveattenuated vaccines. There was a high level of agreement with the recommendations regarding influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations; implementation of these recommendations was also high. Participants also reported a high level of agreement with the remaining recommendations but did not routinely implement these recommendations. @*Conclusion@#The 2019 update of EULAR recommendations for the vaccination of adult patients with AIIRD is generally thought to be important by healthcare professionals, although implementation of adequate vaccination is often lacking. Better education of healthcare providers may be important to optimize the vaccination coverage for patients with AIIRD.
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Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a major cause of infantile diarrhea in developing countries. However, sporadic outbreaks caused by this microorganism in developed countries are frequently reported recently. As an important zoonotic pathogen, EPEC is being monitored annually in several countries. Hallmark of EPEC infection is formation of attaching and effacing (A/E) lesions on the small intestine. To establish A/E lesions during a gastrointestinal tract (GIT) infeciton, EPEC must thrive in diverse GIT environments. A variety of stress responses by EPEC have been reported. These responses play significant roles in helping E. coli pass through GIT environments and establishing E. coli infection. Stringent response is one of those responses. It is mediated by guanosine tetraphosphate. Interestingly, previous studies have demonstrated that stringent response is a universal virulence regulatory mechanism present in many bacterial pathogens including EPEC. However, biological signficance of a bacterial stringent response in both EPEC and its interaction with the host during a GIT infection is unclear. It needs to be elucidated to broaden our insight to EPEC pathogenesis. In this review, diverse responses, including stringent response, of EPEC during a GIT infection are discussed to provide a new insight into EPEC pathophysiology in the GIT.
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Objective@#To assess pre-biologic treatments with conventional synthetic disease-modifying drugs (csDMARDs) prior to biologics initiation among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). @*Methods@#Using Korea National Health Insurance database, we examined pre-biologic treatments of RA patients on the following four items: whether 1) initial methotrexate (MTX) therapy was given, 2) MTX dose was escalated up to ≥15 mg/week within 1-year post-diagnosis, 3) prednisone-equivalent glucocorticoid was used at a dose of ≤7.5 mg/day, and 4) glucocorticoid was discontinued within 6 months of treatment. Multivariable logistic regressions identified predictors of items 2) and 4) fulfillment. @*Results@#Among 6,986 biologics initiators with RA, 54.9% used MTX as the 1st csDMARD. Within 1-year post-diagnosis, 85.2% used MTX with half of them achieving a dose of ≥15 mg/week. The majority (75.2%) of patients used glucocorticoids initially and 64.5% were still on glucocorticoids at 6 months, mostly at a dose of ≤7.5 mg/day. csDMARD combination was observed in 85.7%. Item 2) fulfillment was associated with males, younger age, glucocorticoid, combination therapy, cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors, and viral hepatitis. Item 4) fulfillment was associated with males, MTX dose of ≥15 mg/week, combination therapy, viral hepatitis, and hospitalizations. @*Conclusion@#RA patients in Korea were predominantly treated with MTX-based csDMARD combination plus glucocorticoids before initiating biologics, without sufficient MTX dose escalation or glucocorticoid discontinuation. Items 2) and 4) fulfillments were associated with patient age and gender, concomitant treatments, and comorbidities.
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Peripheral neuropathy is very common in patients with chronic renal failure. The pain arising from hemodialysis can be caused by vascular problems (such as vascular stenosis and steal syndrome) and neuropathy. Hemodialysis patients who need to be dialyzed three times a week should not be told to endure worsening pain every time they are dialyzed. We report that the pain arising from hemodialysis in the lower arm was a concern due to the nerve entrapment in the axillary area, and it was successfully controlled with ultrasound-guided nerve hydrodissection.
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Background@#Data on liver cirrhosis (LC) patients undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) are lacking despite the dismal prognosis. We therefore evaluated clinical characteristics and predictive factors related to mortality in LC patients undergoing CRRT. @*Methods@#We performed a retrospective observational study at two tertiary hospitals in Korea. A total of 229 LC patients who underwent CRRT were analyzed. Patients were classified into survivor and non-survivor groups. We used multivariable Cox regression analyses to identify factors predictive of in-hospital mortality. @*Results@#During a median follow-up of 5 days (interquartile range, 1–19 days), in-hospital mortality rate was 66.4%. In multivariable analysis, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score (hazard ratio [HR], 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–1.06; p = 0.02), Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.04–1.11; p 35 mL/kg/hr (HR, 3.13; 95% CI, 1.62–6.05; p = 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed that a CRRT delivered dose < 25 mL/kg/hr was a significant risk factor for in-hospital mortality among LC patients with a MELD score ≥ 30. @*Conclusion@#High APACHE II score, high MELD score, and low delivered CRRT dose were significant risk factors for in-hospital mortality. CRRT delivered dose impacted mortality significantly, especially in patients with a MELD score ≥ 30.
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Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), which is characterized by the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), is associated with increased risk of thrombosis and obstetric complications, including preterm delivery and recurrent pregnancy losses. APS shows diverse clinical manifestations and the risk of complications varies among clinical subtypes. Although these patients are usually treated with aspirin and anticoagulants, the optimal treatment in various clinical settings is unclear, as the risk of complications vary among clinical subtypes and the management strategy depends on whether the patient is pregnant or not. Also, there are unmet needs for the evidence-based, pregnancyrelated treatment of asymptomatic women positive for aPL. This review focuses on the management of positive aPL or APS in pregnant and postpartum women, and in women attempting to become pregnant. For asymptomatic aPL positive women, no treatment, low dose aspirin (LDA) or LDA plus anticoagulants can be considered during antepartum and postpartum. In obstetric APS patients, preconceptional LDA is recommended. LDA plus low molecular weight heparin is administered after confirmation of pregnancy. Vascular APS patients should take frequent pregnancy test and receive heparin instead of warfarin after confirmation of pregnancy. During pregnancy, heparin plus LDA is recommended. Warfarin can be restarted 4 to 6 hours after vaginal delivery and 6 to 12 hours after cesarean delivery.Most importantly, a tailored approach and patient-oriented treatment are mandatory.
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Background/Aims@#Because ankylosing spondylitis (AS) mainly affects sacroiliac joints, special attention should be given to normal labour and pregnancy outcomes. Here, we investigate pregnancy outcomes in Korean women with AS. @*Methods@#Based on data from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service claims database since July 2007, maternal complications were compared between women with AS and 1:10 matched general population by maternal age and year of delivery. Additionally, the 27 deliveries from 21 patients with AS who were seen at a tertiary hospital were retrospectively evaluated using 1:4 matched control group by maternal and gestational age. @*Results@#In the population-based cohort, there were 1,293 deliveries in 996 patients with AS. Higher maternal age and more comorbidities were reported than in the general population. However, compared to age and delivery-year matched population, only the rate of Caesarean section (CS) was higher in women with AS (odds ratio, 1.52; 95% confidence interval, 1.36 to 1.70). Incidence of other maternal complications was comparable between women with AS and control subjects. In the hospital-based cohort, the CS rate was higher in women with AS (44.4% vs. 20.4%, p = 0.002). Causes of CS was not different in both groups, including previous uterine surgery. There were no significant differences in foetal outcomes, including growth restriction, foetal malformations and Apgar score. @*Conclusions@#CS deliveries were performed more often in women with AS. However, other maternal complications and offspring complications were similar between women with AS and healthy control subjects.
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Background/Aims@#Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an underestimated yet important risk factor for the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD), characterized by tubulointerstitial fibrosis and tubular dedifferentiation. Tubular dedifferentiation, which is associated with the loss of epithelial markers and the gain of mesenchymal features, is thought to be involved in tubulointerstitial fibrosis. As protein kinase B/Akt is involved in the development of CKD, we investigated the role of Akt1, one of the three Akt isoforms, in a murine model of AKI-to-CKD progression. @*Methods@#We subjected C57BL/6 male mice to unilateral ischemia-reperfusion injury (UIRI) and harvested their kidneys after 6 weeks. Mice were divided into four groups, namely, wild-type (WT) UIRI, Akt1−/− UIRI, WT sham, and Akt1−/− sham. @*Results@#Akt1 (but not Akt2 or Akt3) was markedly activated in WT UIRI mice than in WT sham mice. Tubulointerstitial fibrosis and tubular dedifferentiation significantly increased in WT UIRI mice, but were attenuated in Akt1−/− UIRI mice. Both WT UIRI and Akt1−/− UIRI mice showed markedly upregulated transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad signaling compared with WT sham mice. However, TGF-β1/Smad expression did not differ between the two groups. The levels of phosphorylated GSK-3β, β-catenin, and Snail were attenuated in Akt1−/− UIRI mice compared with those in WT UIRI mice. @*Conclusions@#Deletion of Akt1 results in the attenuation of renal fibrosis and tubular dedifferentiation, independent of TGF-β1/Smad signaling, during AKI-to-CKD progression in a UIRI without contralateral nephrectomy model. Thus, Akt1 may serve as a therapeutic target in AKI-to-CKD progression.
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Background@#There is increasing interest in the quality of health care and considerable efforts are being made to improve it. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease that can result in favorable outcomes when appropriate diagnosis and treatment are provided. However, several studies have shown that RA is often managed inappropriately. Therefore, the Korean College of Rheumatology aimed to develop quality indicators (QIs) to evaluate and improve the health care of patients with RA. @*Methods@#Preliminary QIs were derived based on the existing guidelines and QIs for RA. The final QIs were determined through two separate consensus meetings of experts. The consensus was achieved through a panel of experts who voted using the modified Delphi method. @*Results@#Fourteen final QIs were selected among 70 preliminary QIs. These included early referral to and regular follow-up with a rheumatologist, radiographs of the hands and feet, early initiation and maintenance of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy, periodic assessment of disease activity, screening for drug safety and comorbidities,including viral hepatitis and tuberculosis before biologic DMARD therapy, periodic laboratory testing, supplementation with folic acid, assessment of the risk for cervical spine instability before general anesthesia, patient education, and specialized nurse. @*Conclusion@#These QIs can be used to assess and improve the quality of health care for patients with RA.
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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused more than 100 million infections and 2 million deaths worldwide. In up to 20% of cases, COVID-19 infection can take a severe, life-threatening course. Therefore, preventive measures such as mask-wearing, hand hygiene, and social distancing are important. COVID-19 vaccines that use novel vaccine technology can prevent up to 95% of infections. However, the uncertainty regarding the efficacy and safety of vaccination in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic disease (AIIRD), who are immunocompromised due to underlying immune dysfunction and concomitant immunosuppressive treatment, warrants clear guidance. A task force of the Korean College of Rheumatology formulated a set of vaccination guidance based on the currently available data and expert consensus. The currently available COVID-19 vaccines are considered to be safe and effective. Every patient with AIIRD should receive one of the available COVID-19 vaccines unless contraindicated for medical reasons such as prior allergy/anaphylaxis to the COVID-19 vaccine or its components. Patients should continue immunosuppressive treatment for their underlying AIIRD, including biological and targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs). Corticosteroids should be reduced to the lowest dose possible without aggravating the AIIRD. To improve the vaccine response, methotrexate can be withheld for 1–2 weeks after each vaccination, and the timing of rituximab and abatacept infusion should be adjusted if clinically acceptable.Rheumatologists should play a leading role in educating and vaccinating patients with AIIRD.
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Purpose@#Management options for extraperitoneal bladder injury (EBI) associated with pelvic fracture are variable. Predictive factors of operative management (OM) in patients with EBI associated pelvic fracture have not been previously addressed. This study assessed the current epidemiology of blunt traumatic urinary bladder injury and evaluated relevant clinical findings of patients with EBI associated with pelvic fracture who received OM. @*Methods@#Patients with urinary bladder injury with or without pelvic fracture from blunt trauma from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2019 were identified from the institute trauma registry (n = 12,891). Demographics, mechanism of injury, type of urinary bladder injury, pelvic fracture configuration, and management options were analysed in the study population (n = 9,894). @*Results@#Of the 1,400 patients who had pelvic and/or acetabular fracture, 32 (2.3%) had urinary bladder injury. Of the 8,494 patients without pelvic and/or acetabular fracture, 12 (0.1%) had nonpelvic fracture urinary bladder injury. The total incidence of urinary bladder injuries in the study population was 0.4% (44/9,894). Patients with EBI associated with pelvic fracture who underwent OM, had a higher frequency of high-grade pelvic injury (100% vs 0%, p = 0.015), concomitant pelvic surgery (75.0% vs 0%, p = 0.001), and non-lateral compression type pelvic fracture (62.5% vs 10.0%, p = 0.043) compared with patients who underwent non-operative management of EBI. @*Conclusions@#These data suggest that OM may be considered especially in patients with EBI associated with pelvic fracture with high grade pelvic injury, concomitant pelvic surgery, and nonlateral compression type pelvic fracture.
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Background/Aims@#Because ankylosing spondylitis (AS) mainly affects sacroiliac joints, special attention should be given to normal labour and pregnancy outcomes. Here, we investigate pregnancy outcomes in Korean women with AS. @*Methods@#Based on data from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service claims database since July 2007, maternal complications were compared between women with AS and 1:10 matched general population by maternal age and year of delivery. Additionally, the 27 deliveries from 21 patients with AS who were seen at a tertiary hospital were retrospectively evaluated using 1:4 matched control group by maternal and gestational age. @*Results@#In the population-based cohort, there were 1,293 deliveries in 996 patients with AS. Higher maternal age and more comorbidities were reported than in the general population. However, compared to age and delivery-year matched population, only the rate of Caesarean section (CS) was higher in women with AS (odds ratio, 1.52; 95% confidence interval, 1.36 to 1.70). Incidence of other maternal complications was comparable between women with AS and control subjects. In the hospital-based cohort, the CS rate was higher in women with AS (44.4% vs. 20.4%, p = 0.002). Causes of CS was not different in both groups, including previous uterine surgery. There were no significant differences in foetal outcomes, including growth restriction, foetal malformations and Apgar score. @*Conclusions@#CS deliveries were performed more often in women with AS. However, other maternal complications and offspring complications were similar between women with AS and healthy control subjects.
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Background/Aims@#Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an underestimated yet important risk factor for the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD), characterized by tubulointerstitial fibrosis and tubular dedifferentiation. Tubular dedifferentiation, which is associated with the loss of epithelial markers and the gain of mesenchymal features, is thought to be involved in tubulointerstitial fibrosis. As protein kinase B/Akt is involved in the development of CKD, we investigated the role of Akt1, one of the three Akt isoforms, in a murine model of AKI-to-CKD progression. @*Methods@#We subjected C57BL/6 male mice to unilateral ischemia-reperfusion injury (UIRI) and harvested their kidneys after 6 weeks. Mice were divided into four groups, namely, wild-type (WT) UIRI, Akt1−/− UIRI, WT sham, and Akt1−/− sham. @*Results@#Akt1 (but not Akt2 or Akt3) was markedly activated in WT UIRI mice than in WT sham mice. Tubulointerstitial fibrosis and tubular dedifferentiation significantly increased in WT UIRI mice, but were attenuated in Akt1−/− UIRI mice. Both WT UIRI and Akt1−/− UIRI mice showed markedly upregulated transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad signaling compared with WT sham mice. However, TGF-β1/Smad expression did not differ between the two groups. The levels of phosphorylated GSK-3β, β-catenin, and Snail were attenuated in Akt1−/− UIRI mice compared with those in WT UIRI mice. @*Conclusions@#Deletion of Akt1 results in the attenuation of renal fibrosis and tubular dedifferentiation, independent of TGF-β1/Smad signaling, during AKI-to-CKD progression in a UIRI without contralateral nephrectomy model. Thus, Akt1 may serve as a therapeutic target in AKI-to-CKD progression.
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Background@#There is increasing interest in the quality of health care and considerable efforts are being made to improve it. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease that can result in favorable outcomes when appropriate diagnosis and treatment are provided. However, several studies have shown that RA is often managed inappropriately. Therefore, the Korean College of Rheumatology aimed to develop quality indicators (QIs) to evaluate and improve the health care of patients with RA. @*Methods@#Preliminary QIs were derived based on the existing guidelines and QIs for RA. The final QIs were determined through two separate consensus meetings of experts. The consensus was achieved through a panel of experts who voted using the modified Delphi method. @*Results@#Fourteen final QIs were selected among 70 preliminary QIs. These included early referral to and regular follow-up with a rheumatologist, radiographs of the hands and feet, early initiation and maintenance of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy, periodic assessment of disease activity, screening for drug safety and comorbidities,including viral hepatitis and tuberculosis before biologic DMARD therapy, periodic laboratory testing, supplementation with folic acid, assessment of the risk for cervical spine instability before general anesthesia, patient education, and specialized nurse. @*Conclusion@#These QIs can be used to assess and improve the quality of health care for patients with RA.
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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused more than 100 million infections and 2 million deaths worldwide. In up to 20% of cases, COVID-19 infection can take a severe, life-threatening course. Therefore, preventive measures such as mask-wearing, hand hygiene, and social distancing are important. COVID-19 vaccines that use novel vaccine technology can prevent up to 95% of infections. However, the uncertainty regarding the efficacy and safety of vaccination in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic disease (AIIRD), who are immunocompromised due to underlying immune dysfunction and concomitant immunosuppressive treatment, warrants clear guidance. A task force of the Korean College of Rheumatology formulated a set of vaccination guidance based on the currently available data and expert consensus. The currently available COVID-19 vaccines are considered to be safe and effective. Every patient with AIIRD should receive one of the available COVID-19 vaccines unless contraindicated for medical reasons such as prior allergy/anaphylaxis to the COVID-19 vaccine or its components. Patients should continue immunosuppressive treatment for their underlying AIIRD, including biological and targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs). Corticosteroids should be reduced to the lowest dose possible without aggravating the AIIRD. To improve the vaccine response, methotrexate can be withheld for 1–2 weeks after each vaccination, and the timing of rituximab and abatacept infusion should be adjusted if clinically acceptable.Rheumatologists should play a leading role in educating and vaccinating patients with AIIRD.
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Purpose@#Management options for extraperitoneal bladder injury (EBI) associated with pelvic fracture are variable. Predictive factors of operative management (OM) in patients with EBI associated pelvic fracture have not been previously addressed. This study assessed the current epidemiology of blunt traumatic urinary bladder injury and evaluated relevant clinical findings of patients with EBI associated with pelvic fracture who received OM. @*Methods@#Patients with urinary bladder injury with or without pelvic fracture from blunt trauma from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2019 were identified from the institute trauma registry (n = 12,891). Demographics, mechanism of injury, type of urinary bladder injury, pelvic fracture configuration, and management options were analysed in the study population (n = 9,894). @*Results@#Of the 1,400 patients who had pelvic and/or acetabular fracture, 32 (2.3%) had urinary bladder injury. Of the 8,494 patients without pelvic and/or acetabular fracture, 12 (0.1%) had nonpelvic fracture urinary bladder injury. The total incidence of urinary bladder injuries in the study population was 0.4% (44/9,894). Patients with EBI associated with pelvic fracture who underwent OM, had a higher frequency of high-grade pelvic injury (100% vs 0%, p = 0.015), concomitant pelvic surgery (75.0% vs 0%, p = 0.001), and non-lateral compression type pelvic fracture (62.5% vs 10.0%, p = 0.043) compared with patients who underwent non-operative management of EBI. @*Conclusions@#These data suggest that OM may be considered especially in patients with EBI associated with pelvic fracture with high grade pelvic injury, concomitant pelvic surgery, and nonlateral compression type pelvic fracture.
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Background@#Urgent-start peritoneal dialysis (PD) is applied to patients who need PD within two weeks but are able to wait for more than 48 hours before starting PD. To evaluate the usefulness of percutaneous PD catheter insertion in urgent-start PD, we reviewed the clinical outcomes of percutaneous catheter insertion with immediate start PD and surgical insertion with longer break-in time in Pusan National University Hospital. @*Methods@#This study included 177 patients who underwent urgent-start PD. Based on the PD catheter insertion techniques, the patients with urgent-start PD were divided into percutaneous (n = 103) and surgical (n = 74) groups. For the percutaneous group, a modified Seldinger percutaneous catheter insertion with immediate initiation of continuous ambulatory PD was performed by nephrologists. @*Results@#The percutaneous group showed higher serum urea nitrogen, creatinine, and lower serum albumin compared with the surgical group (P < 0.05). Ninety-day infectious and mechanical complications showed no significant differences between the two groups. Ninety-day peritonitis in the percutaneous group was 9.7% compared to 5.4% in the surgical group (P = not significant [NS]). Major leakage was 3.9% in the percutaneous group compared to 1.4% in the surgical group (P = NS). Overall infectious and mechanical complication-free survival was not significantly different between the two groups. The percutaneous group and surgical group showed no statistical difference with respect to catheter survival over the entire observation period (P = NS). @*Conclusion@#This study suggests that urgent-start PD can be applied safely with percutaneous catheter insertion by nephrologists with no break-in period.
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Background/Aims@#The survival rate of gastric cancer (GC) is known to be higher in patients with a family history (FH) of GC. There is an association between a polymorphism in the transforming growth factor-β1 (
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Background@#The D-dimer test is a screening tool for venous thromboembolism (VTE);however, its utility for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remains unclear.Here, we examined the utility of the D-dimer test as a screening tool for VTE in SLE patients. @*Methods@#SLE patients (n = 276) and age- and sex-matched patients with non-rheumatic disease (n = 1,104), all of whom underwent D-dimer testing to screen for VTE, were enrolled.The sensitivity and specificity and receiver operating characteristics curve of the D-dimer test were compared in both groups. Then, subgroup of SLE patients in whom the D-dimer test can be useful was sought. @*Results@#The incidence of VTE was more common in SLE patients than controls (10.9% vs.4.0%). Although the sensitivity of the D-dimer test was comparable between SLE patients and controls (93.3% vs. 90.9%), the specificity of the test was profoundly lower in SLE patients compared to controls (28.4% vs. 84.4%). The area under the curve (AUC) of the D-dimer for VTE was 0.669 in SLE patients and 0.90 in control group. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that SLE disease activity index-2000 (SLEDAI-2K) was significantly associated with D-dimer levels in SLE patients (β = 0.155; P = 0.022). Subgroup analysis showed that the AUC is moderate (0.768) with low disease activity, while it is low (0.518) with high SLEDAI-2K. @*Conclusion@#The D-dimer test may not be a useful screening tool for VTE in patients with active SLE. D-dimer test for predicting VTE in SLE patients should be differentially applied according to disease activity of SLE.
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Background@#Causes of weight change after tocilizumab treatment are unclear. We aimed to investigate the effects of tocilizumab treatment on body weight and serum adipokine levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). @*Methods@#In this retrospective cohort study, we evaluated weight changes in patients with RA who received methotrexate (Cohort I) or tocilizumab with methotrexate (Cohorts II and III) for 24 weeks. Adipokine concentrations at baseline and 24 weeks were analyzed in Cohorts I and III. Cohorts I and II received tocilizumab therapy for an additional 48 weeks, during which weight changes were monitored (24–72 weeks). @*Results@#No significant weight change occurred after 24 weeks of methotrexate treatment (mean difference, −0.2 kg; P = 0.630), but was observed after 24 weeks of tocilizumab treatment (mean difference, +0.9 kg; P = 0.010). Weight changed regardless of the treatment response in both treatment groups. The leptin–adiponectin ratio (P = 0.015) and levels of adiponectin (P < 0.001), leptin (P < 0.001), and resistin (P = 0.003) increased significantly after 24 weeks of tocilizumab, but not methotrexate treatment. After 24, 48 and 72 weeks of tocilizumab treatment in Cohort II, mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) weight changes from baseline were +0.7 (0.0–1.4), +1.2 (0.4–2.0) and +1.1 (0.2–2.0) kg, respectively, and mean (95% CI) percent weight changes from baseline were +1.3% (0.1%–2.6%), +2.2% (0.7%–3.6%), and +2.0% (0.4%–3.7%) at 24, 48, and 72 weeks, respectively. @*Conclusion@#Weight and the leptin–adiponectin ratio increased after tocilizumab treatment. Given that cardiovascular (CV) risk factors may deteriorate in patients with RA who receive tocilizumab, further studies are required to determine the effects of weight gain on CV outcomes in these patients.