Reply to Saleh, C.; Budincevic, H. Interleukin-6, Tocilizumab and Atherosclerosis. Comment on “Gerasimova et al. Interleukin-6: Cardiovascular Aspects of Long-Term Cytokine Suppression in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25, 12425”
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript by Gerasimova et al is the answer to a letter raising some concerns on how the clinical data have been collected and evaluated. The issue relates to measurements of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). Authors, now detailed how and when these measurements have been taken during patient’s follow up, adding also a new table.
Integrating this information in the original manuscript the publication can be accepted.
Author Response
Dear reviewer,
Thank you for reviewing our letter.
The response and comments on our original manuscript will also be published.
We thank you for your co-operation and understanding.
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis is a a response to the letter Regarding Article, “Interleukin-6: Cardio- 2
vascular Aspects of Long-Term Cytokine Suppression in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis”.
The article investigated the long-term cardiovascular effects of IL-6 receptor blockade with tocilizumab (TCZ) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients over a 265-week period. The study results suggest a slight increase in cIMT but no significant change in ASP formation, supporting the hypothesis that tocilizumab reduces subclinical vascular inflammation in RA.
The authors responded well to the each issue raised by the letter. This reviewer thinks that this manuscript is acceptable to this journal.
Author Response
Dear reviewer,
Thank you very much for reviewing our article and for your positive feedback.
We think that the manuscript reads better now.