testing for IL6

[Mstiles]

Is it possible to test for the IL 6 factor before starting Actemra to see if Actemra will work for you?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

That isn't quite the point, IL-6 is the main cause of inflammation in GCA and PMR. But it isn't always the ONLY cause, there are a couple of others involved too for about half of patients. Actemra works for the vast majority of GCA/PMR patients but for half it doesn't work as well as for the other half.

You CAN test for IL-6 but they almost never do so I suspect testing must be complex and expensive and possibly not widely available.