en Clinical Medicine Clinical Medicine مقاله پژوهشی Original Research Article <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:16px;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><b><span style="background:#2d7f8f"><span style="color:white">Background & Objective:</span></span><b> </b></b>This study was carried out to<b> </b>compare the efficacy of tocilizumab versus rituximab in the treatment of refractory rheumatoid arthritis.<br> <b><span style="background:#2d7f8f"><span style="color:white"><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">&nbsp;Materials & Methods:</span></span></span></b> <span lang="EN"><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">Twenty-two </span></span><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">women with refractory rheumatoid arthritis were randomly divided into rituximab (n= 11) and tocilizumab (n= 11) treatment groups. In the first group, rituximab was injected intravenously at a dose of 1 gram. In the second group, tocilizumab was injected subcutaneously at a dose of 20 mg /2 weeks for 6 months. Before the intervention, intensity was measured according to visual analog scale (VAS), along with vital signs and side effects. After 6 months, the clinical disease activity index (CDAI), pain intensity, tender joint count (TJC for 68 and 28 joints) and swollen joint count (SJC for 66 and 28 joints) were assessed. SPSS version 26 was used for </span><span lang="EN"><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">data analysis</span></span><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">.</span><span style="color:black"><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt"> </span></span><br> <b><span lang="EN-IN"><span style="background:#2d7f8f"><span style="color:white">Results: </span></span></span>&nbsp;</b><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">The mean age for rituximab and tocilizumab groups were 54.63 (&plusmn;10.76) and 49.91 (&plusmn;11.14) years, respectively. After 6 months of follow-up, the means of TJC (68 and 28 joints), SJC (for 66 and 28 joints), CDAI and pain intensity were not significantly different in the rituximab and tocilizumab groups (P>0.05). However, the mean of all the above-mentioned items before and 6 months after follow-up was statistically significant within each of the rituximab and tocilizumab groups (P<0.05).</span><br> <b><span style="background:#2d7f8f"><span style="color:white">Conclusion: </span></span>&nbsp;</b>The efficacy of tocilizumab and rituximab in the treatment of refractory rheumatoid arthritis was similar, therefore, both drugs can be used to treat these patients.</span></span></p> Efficacy, Tocilizumab, Rituximab, Refractory Rheumatoid Arthritis 149 156 http://journal.zums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-7079-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Arman Ahmadzadeh arman319@yahoo.com 5200319475328460084322 5200319475328460084322 No Department of Adult Rheumatology, School of Medicine, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Faraneh Farsad faraneh.farsad2016@gmail.com 5200319475328460084323 5200319475328460084323 No Research Center of Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Alireza Rahaei arrajaei@gmail.com 5200319475328460084324 5200319475328460084324 No Department of Adult Rheumatology, School of Medicine, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Mehdi Emam Emammoh56@gmail.com 5200319475328460084325 5200319475328460084325 No Research Center of Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Latif Gachkar Gachkar_lat23@yahoo.com 5200319475328460084326 5200319475328460084326 No Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Elnaz Shafighi Shahri elnaz.shafighi3412@gmail.com 5200319475328460084327 5200319475328460084327 Yes Department of Adult Rheumatology, Loghman Hakim Hospital, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran