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Diagnostic features of mild cellulitis phlegmon in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with tocilizumab: a report of two cases

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Modern Rheumatology

Abstract

Two cases of subcutaneous soft tissue infection in 30 RA patients treated with tocilizumab are reported. In both patients, local redness, swelling, and heat were observed around the affected site. WBC spikes and such local findings were suggested to be clinically useful for the early detection of low-grade subcutaneous infection in RA patients whose disease is tightly controlled with tocilizumab. Of note, the C-reactive protein (CRP) level and temperature lacked clinical utility for such detection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan

    Makoto Hirao, Akihide Nampei, Kenrin Shi, Hideki Yoshikawa & Jun Hashimoto

  2. Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Wakayama Medical School, 811-1 Miidera, Wakayama, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan

    Norihiro Nishimoto

Authors
  1. Makoto Hirao
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  2. Akihide Nampei
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  3. Kenrin Shi
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  4. Hideki Yoshikawa
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  5. Norihiro Nishimoto
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  6. Jun Hashimoto
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jun Hashimoto.

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Hirao, M., Nampei, A., Shi, K. et al. Diagnostic features of mild cellulitis phlegmon in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with tocilizumab: a report of two cases. Mod Rheumatol 21, 673–677 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10165-011-0459-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10165-011-0459-y

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