New injection helps patients at risk of going blind

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) leads to an estimated 3,000 people going blind in the UK each year. The condition leads to an inflammation of the blood vessels in the neck and head, which reduces blood supply to the optic nerve. It can also raise the risk of an aortic aneurysm or stroke.

The cause of the condition is unknown. It mainly affects the over-50s and is three times more common in women. 15,000 people are diagnosed annually in the UK.

Symptoms include severe headaches, muscle pain, blurred vision, scalp tenderness and pain in the jaw.

However, the condition is difficult to diagnose as the symptoms are so varied. Delays in treatment means that around a quarter of patients suffer permanent sight loss.

Up until now, the only treatment has been high-dose steroids, to reduce the inflammation. However, not all patients respond to these drugs and long term use of steroids increases the risk of osteoporosis, fracture and diabetes.

This new jab, Tocilizumab ,targets a chemical responsible for inflammation. In a trial involving 251 patients, more than half showed no evidence of the disease after 12 months, in spite of being taken off steroids after six months.

Professor Dasgupta, expert in GCA and consultant rheumatologist at Southend University Hospital, said “Tocilizumab helps patients achieve better control of this illness and fills what has been an unmet need.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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