Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 24, 2026

An Immunohistopathologic Study to Profile the Folate Receptor Beta Macrophage and Vascular Immune Microenvironment in Giant Cell Arteritis
06:35

An Immunohistopathologic Study to Profile the Folate Receptor Beta Macrophage and Vascular Immune Microenvironment in Giant Cell Arteritis

Published on: February 8, 2019

6.8K

Large-vessel giant cell arteritis: a cohort study

Francesco Muratore1, Tanaz A Kermani1, Cynthia S Crowson2

  • 1Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Division of Biostatistics, Department of Health Sciences Research and Division of Epidemiology, Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

Rheumatology (Oxford, England)
|September 7, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Patients with large-vessel GCA (LV-GCA) of the extremities were younger and had more relapses than those with cranial GCA (C-GCA). LV-GCA patients required higher corticosteroid doses and longer treatment, indicating limitations in current GCA classification criteria.

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Vascular Medicine
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a systemic vasculitis.
  • GCA predominantly affects the aorta and its branches.
  • Distinguishing large-vessel GCA (LV-GCA) from cranial GCA (C-GCA) is crucial for management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare baseline characteristics, treatment strategies, and outcomes in patients with LV-GCA (primarily upper extremities) versus C-GCA.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of existing classification criteria for LV-GCA.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective comparison of patients diagnosed with LV-GCA (subclavian involvement) and C-GCA between 1999 and 2008.
  • Inclusion criteria: age >50 years, radiographic evidence for LV-GCA, biopsy-proven C-GCA.
  • Data collected included demographics, symptoms, American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria, treatment, and outcomes.

Main Results:

  • The study included 120 LV-GCA and 212 C-GCA patients.
  • LV-GCA patients were younger (68.2 vs 75.7 years), had longer symptom duration, and more polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).
  • LV-GCA patients experienced higher relapse rates (4.9 vs 3.0/10 person-years), required higher cumulative corticosteroid (CS) doses (11.4g vs 9.1g at 1 year), and longer treatment duration (4.5 vs 2.2 years).

Conclusions:

  • Despite a lower rate of vision loss, LV-GCA is associated with increased relapses and higher corticosteroid requirements compared to C-GCA.
  • The current ACR classification criteria are insufficient for accurately classifying patients with LV-GCA.
  • Further research is needed to refine diagnostic and classification criteria for LV-GCA.
Abstract

Keywords:
giant cell arteritisimaginglarge-vessel vasculitisprognosistreatment

More Related Videos

Ultrasound Assessment of Endothelial-Dependent Flow-Mediated Vasodilation of the Brachial Artery in Clinical Research08:42

Ultrasound Assessment of Endothelial-Dependent Flow-Mediated Vasodilation of the Brachial Artery in Clinical Research

Published on: October 22, 2014

26.8K
Reliable Isolation of Central Nervous System Microvessels Across Five Vertebrate Groups10:35

Reliable Isolation of Central Nervous System Microvessels Across Five Vertebrate Groups

Published on: January 12, 2020

8.0K

Related Concept Videos

Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS01:11

Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS

Genome-wide association studies or GWAS are used to identify whether common SNPs are associated with certain diseases. Suppose specific SNPs are more frequently observed in individuals with a particular disease than those without the disease. In that case, those SNPs are said to be associated with the disease. Chi-square analysis is performed to check the probability of the allele likely to be associated with the disease.
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
12.3K
Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:22

Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

The key clinical manifestations of Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) include several distinct cardiac symptoms.Carditis, a hallmark of acute rheumatic fever, involves inflammation of the heart's endocardium, myocardium, and pericardium. Chronic RHD often results from recurrent episodes of carditis. Its symptoms include the following:Murmurs are caused by valvular damage, especially to the mitral and aortic valves. Mitral stenosis or regurgitation is common, with characteristic heart murmurs...
1.3K
Acute Coronary Syndrome III: Diagnostic Studies01:30

Acute Coronary Syndrome III: Diagnostic Studies

Diagnosing acute coronary syndrome or ACS begins with a thorough patient history. Notable symptoms include central, crushing chest pain radiating to the left arm, neck, jaw, or back, along with shortness of breath, sweating (diaphoresis), nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and palpitations.It is crucial to note any history of cardiac illnesses and assess risk factors, including age, gender, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and a sedentary lifestyle.During physical examination, vital...
493
Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests01:27

Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests

Atherosclerosis is a progressive disorder that leads to the thickening and narrowing of arterial walls due to plaque buildup. This condition can cause various symptoms depending on the arteries affected:Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): This condition affects the coronary arteries and may lead to chest pain (angina), shortness of breath (dyspnea), heart attacks, and other heart disease symptoms.Cerebrovascular Disease: This affects blood flow to the brain, causing transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)...
866
Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:30

Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

Hypertension is asymptomatic and also referred to as the "silent killer" until it progresses to a severe stage or causes target organ disease. Patients may experience symptoms stemming from the strain on blood vessels and tissues in various organs or the heart's increased workload.Physical exams might show no abnormalities other than high blood pressure. Signs of vascular damage, when present, correspond to the organs supplied by the affected vessels, leading to target organ damage. For...
800
Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation01:21

Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation

Clinical manifestationsPeripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) manifests through a range of symptoms, from the characteristic intermittent claudication to atypical presentations and severe complications in advanced stages. Intermittent claudication, a hallmark symptom of PAD, presents as exercise-induced muscle pain that typically resolves within minutes of rest. This pain is reproducible and stems from inadequate blood flow, leading to the accumulation of lactic acid produced during anaerobic...
755