This case report describes two female lupus patients who both received biological treatment with tocilizumab and with belimumab. The disease course was remarkably similar in both cases. Tocilizumab resulted in a transient improvement in pleurisy and arthritis but was then followed by a clinical flare accompanied by an increase in autoantibodies and a drop in complement levels. Alike, both patients experienced a rapid and sustained improvement after institution of belimumab. The clinical benefit obtained is currently stable under ongoing belimumab therapy.
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