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…
Trial Data Reveals the Limitations of Steroids in Giant Cell Arteritis Therapy
AMSTERDAM—Just how seldom prednisone is successful at inducing remission in giant cell arteritis (GCA), despite such a long history of use for the disease, is one of the many lessons to emerge from the data in the GiACTA trial, said the principal investigator of the trial, which is the largest ever in GCA and is…
Updates on Giant Cell Arteritis
SAN DIEGO—Recent research tells us more about giant cell arteritis (GCA) to help rheumatologists more accurately diagnose and effectively treat patients with this type of vasculitis. On Nov. 6 at the ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting, three experts explored the latest findings on GCA pathogenesis, diagnostic approaches, imaging modalities and growing treatment options. GCA: What’s Really Happening?…
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…
Higher Fracture Risk in Patients with Polymyalgia Rheumatica, Giant-Cell Arteritis
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and giant-cell arteritis (GCA) have similarly increased risks of fracture, compared with the general population, researchers have found. “It is of surprise that patients with GCA have a similar fracture risk to those with PMR,” Dr. Zoe Paskins from Keele University, in Staffordshire, told Reuters Health by…
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 Update: Romosozumab’s Uncertain Future; Plus Tocilizumab Approved for GCA
Due to possible heart-related side effects, romosozumab is no longer expected to be approved this year for the treatment of osteoporosis…
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…
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…
Tocilizumab Designated as Breakthrough Therapy for GCA
To speed the development of tocilizumab to treat giant cell arteritis (GCA), the FDA designated it as a breakthrough therapy earlier this month…