Session Information
Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025
Title: (0731–0764) Vasculitis – Non-ANCA-Associated & Related Disorders Poster I
Session Type: Poster Session A
Session Time: 10:30AM-12:30PM
Background/Purpose: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a chronic vasculitis where relapses frequently occur. The rates of relapses of GCA have not been defined by now.We aimed to evaluate the factors associated with relapses in our cohort.
Methods: In 58 GCA patients the diagnosis was confirmed according to history, clinical signs, laboratory tests and ultrasound examination. Ultrasound of cranial, carotid and axillar arteries was performed in all participants. We collected data cross-sectionally at first evaluation and at the second evaluation 5 years later. Predictors of relapses were identified by logistic regression analysis.
Results: 58 GCA patients were included initially (62 % women, mean age 74 years). At the end 53 patients completed the study and their data have been analyzed. 2 (3,4%) patients died, 3 (5,1%) were lost (didn’t show up on controls). All patients received glucocorticoid treatment (60mg ofprednisolone, or pulse treatment if the vision was impaired), during follow up 16 (30,1%) received leflunomide (non-biologic agent as steroid sparing drug), 16 (30,1%) tocilizumab (biologic agent).Relapses occurred in 17 (33,3%) of patients. A Mann-Whitney U value of 0.46 and t test (Welch) indicates that the relationship between the number of affected arteries and the occurrence of relapses in GCA patients is weak or negligible. There were no association with relapse occurrences and the time to diagnosis (t-test value of 0.99, Mann-Whitney 0,62). Mann-Whitney U test 0,07 result provides stronger evidence for a relationship between CRP levels and relapse, while the t-test 0,12 suggests that the mean CRP difference at the time of diagnosis is not substantial enough to be considered clinically significant.
Conclusion: GCA relapses occurred in 33,3 % of patients. Relapses were not associated with number of affected arteries, with the value of CRP at the time of diagnosis or with the time to diagnosis
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
HOLC I, Koren Krajnc M, Gačnik M, Lah A. Does The Number Of Arteries Affected At The Disease Onset Predict Relapses Of Giant Cell Arteritis? [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2025; 77 (suppl 9). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/does-the-number-of-arteries-affected-at-the-disease-onset-predict-relapses-of-giant-cell-arteritis/. Accessed .« Back to ACR Convergence 2025
ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/does-the-number-of-arteries-affected-at-the-disease-onset-predict-relapses-of-giant-cell-arteritis/