A Study of the Effect of Tocilizumab on Markers of Atherogenic Risk in Patients With Moderate to Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis

Change From Baseline to Week 24 in Small Low Density Lipoprotein (sLDL) Particle Numbers

Small LDL particles are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease: more of these small particles lead to a greater risk. The concentration of fasting small LDL particles was determined using the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) methodology.

Time frame: Baseline and Week 24

Change From Baseline to Week 24 in Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV)

Aortic (central) arterial stiffness was assessed with Pulse Wave Analysis (PWA) of the radial artery and carotid-femoral PWV using applanation tonometry after the patient had rested in a supine position for at least 10 minutes.

Time frame: Baseline and Week 24

Number of Participants Experiencing Adverse Events (AEs)

A severe AE is an event in which the intensity of the event results in an inability to work or perform normal daily activity. A Serious AE is fatal, life-threatening, requires in-patient hospitalization, results in persistent or significant disability/incapacity, is a congenital anomaly/birth defect or is medically significant or requires intervention to prevent one of the above outcomes. AEs of special interest include infection, gastrointestinal, infusion reaction (occurring during or within 24 hours of infusion), hepatic disorder, myocardial infarction and stroke.