[How long should treatment with tocilizumab be carried out for giant cell arteritis and how should it be ended (discontinue/taper off)?].

The revised S2 guidelines for treatment of giant cell arteritis have recently been published. Glucocorticosteroids remain the standard first line treatment. For severe or relapsing courses of the disease, the IL‑6 antagonist tocilizumab, a potent antibody, is now available as a therapeutic option; however, how long this treatment should be continued after having achieved a stable remission remains a matter of discussion. For patients with a complicated course and a high risk of relapse, a continuous treatment would be the safest way; however, with a milder course of disease for approximately half of the patients, treatment without relapse can be discontinued again.