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Updated: Apr 26, 2026
An Immunohistopathologic Study to Profile the Folate Receptor Beta Macrophage and Vascular Immune Microenvironment in Giant Cell Arteritis
Published on: February 8, 2019
Risk of malignancy in patients with giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica: a systematic review and
Patompong Ungprasert1, Anawin Sanguankeo2, Sikarin Upala2
1Department of Internal Medicine, Bassett Medical Center and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Cooperstown, NY; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Objective:
To investigate the association between giant cell arteritis (GCA)/polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and malignancy risk.
Methods:
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies that reported relative risk, hazard ratio, or standardized incidence ratio (SIRs) with 95% confidence comparing malignancy risk in patients with GCA/PMR versus non-GCA/PMR participants. Pooled risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using a random-effect, generic inverse variance method.
Result:
A total of six studies were identified and included in our data analysis. The pooled risk ratio of malignancy in patients with GCA/PMR was 1.14 (95% CI: 1.05-1.22). The risk was higher in the first 6-12 months after diagnosis with the pooled risk ratio of 2.16 (95% CI: 1.85-2.53). However, when we performed a sensitivity analysis that excluded one study with a potential selection bias, the pooled risk ratio decreased and did not achieve statistical significance.
Conclusion:
Our study demonstrated a low but statistically significant increased malignancy risk among patients with GCA/PMR. However, when we excluded one study with potential selection bias, the new pooled risk ratio did not achieve statistical significance.
