Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 13, 2025

Scaled-Up Preparation of an Intermediate of Upatinib, ACT051-3
Published on: April 7, 2023
Giant Cell Arteritis Refractory to Interleukin-6 and Interleukin-17 Inhibition Treated With Upadacitinib
Luke S Vest1, Anam Ahmad2, Sanhitha Valasareddy2
1Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a granulomatous vasculitis that can involve both cranial and extracranial vessels. Although interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor blockade is an established therapy, treatment options for medically refractory disease remain limited. We report a unique case of extracranial GCA refractory to glucocorticoids, azathioprine, tocilizumab (IL-6 inhibitor), and secukinumab (IL-17A inhibitor) that responded robustly to upadacitinib, a selective JAK1 inhibitor. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of GCA demonstrating resistance to both IL-6 and IL-17 inhibition but clinical and imaging remission with JAK inhibition, highlighting the role of upadacitinib as a therapy for patients with GCA.
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a granulomatous vasculitis that can involve both cranial and extracranial vessels. Although interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor blockade is an established therapy, treatment options for medically refractory disease remain limited. We report a unique case of extracranial GCA refractory to glucocorticoids, azathioprine, tocilizumab (IL-6 inhibitor), and secukinumab (IL-17A inhibitor) that responded robustly to upadacitinib, a selective JAK1 inhibitor. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of GCA demonstrating resistance to both IL-6 and IL-17 inhibition but clinical and imaging remission with JAK inhibition, highlighting the role of upadacitinib as a therapy for patients with GCA.
More Related Videos
06:35An Immunohistopathologic Study to Profile the Folate Receptor Beta Macrophage and Vascular Immune Microenvironment in Giant Cell Arteritis
Published on: February 8, 2019
08:43Adoptive Immunotherapy of iNKT Cells in Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase G6PI-Induced RA Mice
Published on: January 31, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Biologic Agents: Anti-TNF
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Glucocorticoids
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Endothelin Receptor Antagonists
ETs are synthesized through a complex sequence of enzymatic steps, primarily involving an enzyme referred to as endothelin-converting enzyme...
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists
These agonists bind to the IPR receptor situated on the plasma membrane of the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. This binding triggers a cascade of reactions known as the GS-AC-cAMP-PKA pathway. This pathway results in the relaxation of smooth muscle...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Pharmacological Management
Pharmacologic...