Measuring erythrocyte sedimentation rate, angiopoietin-2/-1 ratio, and matrix metalloprotease-3 levels may help discriminate patients with isolated polymyalgia rheumatica from those with concomitant giant cell arteritis, research suggests.

Findings from a proof-of-concept trial provide preliminary evidence to suggest that the JAK inhibitor baricitinib is well tolerated and may have efficacy for the treatment of relapsing giant cell arteritis.

Cumulative prednisone dose and effective disease control are both associated with increased BMI among patients with giant cell arteritis, post-hoc analysis of the GiACTA trial suggests.

Findings from the phase 2 TitAIN trial support further investigation of the IL-17A inhibitor secukinumab for the treatment of giant cell arteritis.

The majority of patients with giant cell arteritis generate an antibody response following both doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, researchers report in a letter to Rheumatology .

Tocilizumab monotherapy following an ultra-short pulse of glucocorticoid treatment may be effective for inducing and maintaining remission in patients with new-onset giant cell arteritis, suggest preliminary study findings.

Findings from two studies published in Rheumatology suggest that angiotensin receptor blocker use may be associated with an increased risk for developing giant cell arteritis, and that interferon-γ may warrant further investigation as a risk biomarker.

Mavrilimumab is effective for reducing the risk for flare and maintaining sustained remission in patients with giant cell arteritis, phase 2 study findings show.

A monthly selection of topical peer-reviewed articles from the Adis journals, curated by the editors.

How can rheumatologists respond to the challenges associated with rituximab use during the pandemic?

More than a third of patients with giant cell arteritis remission who discontinue tocilizumab treatment after 1 year remain in clinical remission for a further 2 years, suggest follow-up results from the GiACTA trial.

The researchers note that rates of severe COVID-19 were particularly high in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis and those with giant cell arteritis.

Imaging with a combined positron emission tomography and computed tomography scanner shows good accuracy for diagnosing giant cell arteritis versus the gold-standard temporal artery biopsy.

Vascular ultrasound could be a contender as a first-line imaging test for diagnosing large vessel giant cell arteritis, suggests research.

Imaging with a combined positron emission tomography and computed tomography scanner shows good accuracy for diagnosing giant cell arteritis versus the gold-standard temporal artery biopsy.

Berit Dalsgaard Nielsen discusses Aarhus University study findings showing the potential for ultrasound as a first-line imaging test for diagnosing large vessel inflammation in patients with suspected giant cell arteritis (4:57).

Vascular ultrasound could be a contender as a first-line imaging test for diagnosing large vessel giant cell arteritis, suggests research.

3–9 November: Keep up with the latest news and interviews from the conference.