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Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2022 Jun 28. Epub 2022 Jun 28.

Systemic Autoimmunity Branch, NIAMS, National Institutes of Health.

Objectives: To examine and compare disease activity over time in giant cell arteritis (GCA) and Takayasu's arteritis (TAK) using multimodal assessment combining clinical, laboratory, and imaging-based testing.

Methods: Patients with GCA or TAK were enrolled into a single-center prospective, observational cohort at any point in the disease course. Patients underwent standardized assessment, including FDG-PET, at enrollment and follow-up visits. Read More

J Fr Ophtalmol 2022 Jun 24. Epub 2022 Jun 24.

CHU du Kremlin-Bicêtre, 78, avenue du Général Leclerc, 94270 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.

Rev Med Interne 2022 Jun 22. Epub 2022 Jun 22.

Service de médecine interne et post-urgences, hôpital Pellegrin, CHU de Bordeaux, hôpital Pellegrin, place Amélie Raba Léon, 33000 Bordeaux, France; Université de Bordeaux, Talence, France. Electronic address:

Introduction: Hearing loss is a rare manifestation in giant cell arteritis. The different types of deafness are possible with a predominance of sensorineural deafness.

Case Report: We report a 75-year-old woman who presented with typical manifestations of giant cell arteritis associated concomitantly with the occurrence of bilateral mixed hearing loss confirmed on the audiogram. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2022 06 24;15(6). Epub 2022 Jun 24.

Department of Rheumatology, Okayama City Hospital, Okayama, Japan.

Rheumatology (Oxford) 2022 Jun 23. Epub 2022 Jun 23.

Department of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Pavia, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.

Objectives: To analyse humoral and cellular immune response to messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccines in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Methods: Consecutive patients with a diagnosis of GCA receiving two doses of BNT162b2 vaccine were assessed at baseline and three weeks from the second vaccine dose. Healthy subjects (n = 51) were included as controls (HC). Read More

Front Med (Lausanne) 2022 6;9:902155. Epub 2022 Jun 6.

Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) are two interrelated inflammatory diseases affecting patients above 50 years of age. Patients with GCA suffer from granulomatous inflammation of medium- to large-sized arteries. This inflammation can lead to severe ischemic complications (e. Read More

Rheumatol Int 2022 Jun 21. Epub 2022 Jun 21.

Department of Rheumatology, Patras University Hospital, University of Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece.

Prompt initiation of pulse glucocorticoid treatment is recommended in case of visual symptoms and suspected or proven giant cell arteritis (GCA). Pulse treatment in most cases prevents involvement of an initially unaffected fellow eye. We present the case of a biopsy-proven GCA in a 79-year-old man, complicated by sequential bilateral blindness. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2022 06 20;15(6). Epub 2022 Jun 20.

Department of Diagnostic and Generalist Medicine, Dokkyo Medical University, Shimotsuga-gun, Japan

Rev Med Interne 2022 Jun 16. Epub 2022 Jun 16.

Service de médecine interne, hôpital Aristide Le Dantec, université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, Sénégal.

Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2022 Jun 17. Epub 2022 Jun 17.

Rheumatology Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.

Introduction: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) and Takayasu arteritis (TAK) are the major forms of large vessel vasculitis (LVV).Glucocorticoids represent the cornerstone of LVV treatment, however, relapses and recurrences frequently occur when they are tapered or stopped, determining a prolonged exposure to glucocorticoids and a subsequent increased risk of glucocorticoid-related side effects. Therefore, conventional and biologic immunosuppressive drugs have been proposed to obtain a glucocorticoid-sparing effect. Read More

J Vasc Surg 2022 Jun 13. Epub 2022 Jun 13.

Heart and Vascular Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH.

Objective: A surgical temporal artery biopsy (TAB) is the gold standard for diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA). The necessity of performing a bilateral biopsy remains under debate. The primary objective of this study was to assess the rate of discordance between pathology results in patients who underwent bilateral temporal artery biopsy for suspected GCA. Read More

Open Access Rheumatol 2022 8;14:97-101. Epub 2022 Jun 8.

Rheumatology Section, Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.

Ann Rheum Dis 2022 Jun 15. Epub 2022 Jun 15.

Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine López-Neyra (IPBLN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Granada, Spain

Objectives: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a complex systemic vasculitis mediated by the interplay between both genetic and epigenetic factors. Monocytes are crucial players of the inflammation occurring in GCA. Therefore, characterisation of the monocyte methylome and transcriptome in GCA would be helpful to better understand disease pathogenesis. Read More

Pol Arch Intern Med 2022 Jun 6. Epub 2022 Jun 6.

Large vessel vasculitis (LVV), including Takayasu arteritis (TAK) and giant cell arteritis (GCA), causes granulomatous vascular inflammation mainly in large vessels, and is the most common primary vasculitis in adults. Vascular inflammation may evoke many clinical features including vision impairment, stroke, limb ischemia, and aortic aneurysms. The best way to diagnose LVV is to combine medical history, physical examination, various laboratory tests, and imaging modalities. Read More

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2022 Jun 13. Epub 2022 Jun 13.

First Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine and Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece.

Objectives: To examine adrenal cortex reserve in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD) who relapse upon tapering of low glucocorticoid dose, despite concomitant treatment with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs).

Methods: A morning standard dose of 250 mcg tetracosactide (Synacthen test) was given in 25 consecutive patients (13 rheumatoid arthritis, 2 psoriatic arthritis, 5 systemic lupus erythematosus, 2 dermatomyositis, 1 systemic sclerosis, 2 temporal arteritis) at the time of relapse upon small reductions (1-2 mg daily) of low prednisolone dose (<7.5 mg daily), while being on stable concomitant treatment with methotrexate, leflunomide, hydroxychloroquine, azathioprine, mycophenolate, tofacitinib, belimumab, anti-TNF, anti-IL-6 or anti-IL-1 regimens (n=14; 3; 9; 1; 2; 1; 1; 5; 2; 1, respectively). Read More

ACR Open Rheumatol 2022 Jun 13. Epub 2022 Jun 13.

Caen Universisty Hospital, Caen, France.

Objective: The incidence rate of giant cell arteritis (GCA) is poorly studied in France. Therefore, we conducted a national hospital database study to assess the overall and regional incidence rates of GCA in France, including overseas territories.

Methods: Through the national hospitalization database of all patients hospitalized in France, new incidental GCA was identified using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision medical codes (M31. Read More

Rheumatol Adv Pract 2022 19;6(2):rkac041. Epub 2022 May 19.

Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ziekenhuisgroep Twente (Hospital Group Twente), Almelo.

Rheumatol Adv Pract 2022 19;6(2):rkac042. Epub 2022 May 19.

Rheumatology Department, University Hospital Wishaw, NHS Lanarkshire, Wishaw, UK.

Am J Emerg Med 2022 May 31;58:135-140. Epub 2022 May 31.

SAUSHEC, Department of Emergency Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address:

Introduction: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a serious condition that carries with it a high rate of morbidity.

Objective: This review highlights the pearls and pitfalls of GCA in adult patients, including presentation, diagnosis, and management in the emergency department (ED) based on current evidence.

Discussion: GCA is an immune-mediated vasculitis of medium-sized vessels that primarily affects those over the age of 50 years. Read More

J Clin Med 2022 May 31;11(11). Epub 2022 May 31.

Internal Medicine Department, CHU Nîmes, University of Montpellier, 30029 Nîmes, France.

Objectives: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is associated with severe outcomes such as infections and cardiovascular diseases. We describe here the impact of GCA patients' characteristics and treatment exposure on the occurrence of severe outcomes.

Methods: Data were collected retrospectively from real-world GCA patients with a minimum of six-months follow-up. Read More

Otolaryngol Clin North Am 2022 Jun;55(3):501-518

Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, 550 Peachtree Street Northeast, Suite 1135, Atlanta, GA 30308, USA. Electronic address:

Patients will continue to present to the otolaryngologist's office with "sinus headaches" as their primary complaint. Otolaryngologists should take particular care in establishing a precise diagnosis. A thorough clinical history, comprehensive head and neck examination, well-performed nasal endoscopy, and imaging as necessary are essential components for effective diagnosis and treatment plan implementation. Read More

Cureus 2022 May 4;14(5):e24715. Epub 2022 May 4.

Internal Medicine and Nephrology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, USA.

Syphilis is a rare cause of vision loss that mostly occurs after an infection of the meninges, brain tissue, and parenchyma. Syphilis can mimic auto-immune disease like giant cell arteritis which also manifest as sudden vision loss. Spirochete can spread through sexual contact and cause painless ulcers. Read More

Ann Neurol 2022 Jun 6. Epub 2022 Jun 6.

Department of Neurology, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Kobe, Japan.

J Clin Rheumatol 2022 Jun 3. Epub 2022 Jun 3.

From the Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Universitario de Navarra.

Background: With the arrival of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in 2020, it was proposed to make the change from intravenous (IV) tocilizumab (TCZ) to its subcutaneous formulation, in order to avoid rheumatological patients having to go to the day hospital and guarantee enough IV TCZ for those critical patients with COVID who needed it. The aim of this study was to describe the rate and reasons for switching back to IV TCZ from subcutaneous TCZ.

Methods: We included patients from the rheumatology service that were on treatment with IV TCZ in February 2020 and were followed up until March 2021. Read More

World J Clin Cases 2022 May;10(13):4137-4144

Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou 310006, Zhejiang Province, China.

Background: Musculoskeletal involvement in primary large vessel vasculitis (LVV), including giant cell arteritis and Takayasu's arteritis (TAK), tends to be subacute. With the progression of arterial disease, patients may develop polyarthralgia and myalgias, mainly involving muscle stiffness, limb/jaw claudication, cold/swelling extremities, Acute development of rhabdomyolysis in addition to aortic aneurysm is uncommon in LVV. Herein, we report a rare case of LVV with the first presentation of acute rhabdomyolysis. Read More

Rheumatol Adv Pract 2022 12;6(2):rkac040. Epub 2022 May 12.

Department of Rheumatology, Counties Manukau District Health Board, Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.

Objectives: A retrospective observational study was undertaken to assess the diagnostic performance (sensitivity and specificity) of colour duplex ultrasound (CDUS) compared with temporal artery biopsy (TAB) for the diagnosis of GCA in the Counties Manukau District Health Board (CMDHB), New Zealand using clinical diagnosis as the reference standard.

Methods: The study population included patients with clinically suspected GCA who were referred to Middlemore Hospital and underwent CDUS, TAB or both between January 2019 and December 2020.

Results: Sixty-nine patients were included in the study. Read More

Mod Rheumatol 2022 Jun 4. Epub 2022 Jun 4.

Department of Rheumatology, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.

Objective: To assess the accuracy of ultrasound (US) versus FDG-PET/CT to identify extracranial involvement in suspected large vessel vasculitis (LVV) patients.

Methods: Retrospective observational study of patients referred to our US fast track clinic with suspected LVV. All patients underwent US exam within 24 hours per protocol. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2022 Jun 4;24(1):133. Epub 2022 Jun 4.

Medical Center Monbijou, Bern, Switzerland.

Background: Subcutaneous tocilizumab (TCZ SC) is approved globally for giant cell arteritis (GCA). This phase Ib study investigated the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety, and exploratory efficacy of intravenous (IV) TCZ 6 and 7 mg/kg in patients with GCA. This study explored an IV dose resulting in a minimum exposure level within the range of effective trough concentrations achieved with TCZ SC dosing in GCA and not exceeding the exposure of the well-tolerated 8 mg/kg IV every 4 weeks (Q4W) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Read More

Rev Esp Enferm Dig 2022 Jun 3. Epub 2022 Jun 3.

Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario La Paz.

It is presented a case study of intestinal affectation on a patient under tocilizumab treatment for giant cell arteritis. Read More

Nihon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi 2022 ;59(2):233-236

Department of General Internal Medicine, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is considered in the differential diagnosis of fever of unknown origin in the elderly. We describe the case of an 83-year-old man with GCA diagnosed by temporal artery biopsy (TBA), who did not exhibit abnormal physical and imaging findings. The patient had fever and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), which had persisted for two months. Read More