NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Tocilizumab induced a slow and lasting remission after an ultra-short pulse (three days) of steroids in newly diagnosed giant cell arteritis (GCA) patients, a proof-of-concept trial shows.1 His early research on cytokines and glucocorticoids led Peter Villiger, MD, of Medical Center Monbijou, Bern, Switzerland, to find ways to reduce steroid use, he…
Untangling the Diagnosis & Management of GCA
Vision loss, implications of treatment and more—Sarah Mackie, BMBCh, PhD, MRCP, discussed the latest research on the evaluation and management of giant cell arteritis.
Late-Breaking Abstract Session Spans the Realm of Drug-Related Research
In the late-breaking abstract session at ACR Convergence 2020, drug research for a variety of indications is reviewed.
10 Clinical Insights from Rheumatology Top Secrets & Pearls
In this ACR Convergence session, Jason R. Kolfenbach, MD, & John H. Stone, MD, MPH, shared clinical insights about rheumatic diseases.
Varicella Zoster Virus Not Associated with Giant Cell Arteritis Pathogenesis
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…
FDA Approves Rituximab for Children with GPA & MPA
Intravenous rituximab can now be used to treat pediatric patients with GPA and MPA as young as two years old…
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…
Stay the Course: How to Maintain Remission in Vasculitis
MADRID—During the 2019 European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR), held June 12–15, speakers addressed the complexity of vasculitis in a Challenges in Clinical Practice session titled, How to Maintain Remission in Vasculitis. Although vasculitis appears in many varieties, one commonality exists among these related yet distinct conditions: When there is vital organ or systemic involvement, disease…
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…