Researchers suggest antiviral therapy is not appropriate for patients with GCA, based on their study findings and related research…
New Insights into the Management of Giant Cell Arteritis
A systematic literature review identified novel evidence on the treatment and management of GCA that was incorporated into the most recent EULAR recommendations on the management of large vessel vasculitis. Investigators confirmed the efficacy of prompt initiation of glucocorticoids and found fast-track approaches to diagnosis lowered the risk of ischemic complications…
Race May Not Be a Risk Factor for Giant Cell Arteritis
Past research has identified being of Northern European descent as a risk factor, among others such as age, sex and HLA DRB1, for developing giant cell arteritis (GCA). But new research casts doubts on this idea, finding that rates of biopsy proven GCA may not differ by race…
Large-Vessel Involvement Is an Independent Risk Factor Predicting GCA Mortality
At diagnosis, temporal artery biopsy results and large-vessel involvement of patients with giant cell arteritis may be stronger predictors of mortality than cardiovascular risk factors…
New Recommendations Guide Imaging in Large-Vessel Vasculitis
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Patients with suspected large-vessel vasculitis (LVV) should undergo early imaging, the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) advises in a new report presenting a dozen evidence-based recommendations for the use of imaging in primary LVV. Ultrasound should be the first choice for giant-cell arteritis (GCA), while MRI should take precedence for Takayasu arteritis…
Tocilizumab Is Effective to Treat GCA
In a recent clinical trial, tocilizumab helped sustain glucocorticoid-free remission in patients with giant cell arteritis. Patients also received a prednisone taper, and 50% of tocilizumab-treated patients achieved prednisone-free remission and were less likely to experience disease flare compared with placebo…
FDA Considers Tocilizumab for GCA & Piclidenoson Enters Phase 3 Trial for RA, Psoriasis
The FDA is considering a supplemental biologics license application for tocilizumab to treat giant cell arteritis…
How to Manage Patients with Giant Cell Arteritis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica
WASHINGTON, D.C.—From diagnosis questions to infection risk to treatment decisions, handling giant cell arteritis (GCA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) comes with a range of challenges for clinicians. Speaking in the ACR Review Course at the 2016 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting, an expert—Rebecca Manno, MD, MHS, assistant professor of medicine in rheumatology at Johns Hopkins, as well…
GCA Relapse Possible When Discontinuing Tocilizumab
A recent study found that although patients with giant cell arteritis respond positively to long-term tocilizumab treatment, relapse may occur after discontinuing the medication…
Diagnose, Manage and Treat Giant Cell Arteritis
A rheumatologist at the California Rheumatology Alliance 10th Annual Medical & Scientific Meeting in San Francisco shares research findings on this inflammatory blood vessel disease