Incidence of Severe Infections and Infection-Related Mortality During the Course of Giant Cell Arteritis: A Multicenter, Prospective, Double-Cohort Study.

Objective: To assess the incidence of infections leading to hospitalization, the mortality rate related to infections, and the determinants of these factors in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Methods: In total, 486 patients with GCA (75% women) were enrolled at the time of diagnosis. All patients fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology criteria for GCA.

Small-vessel vasculitis surrounding an uninflamed temporal artery: a new diagnostic criterion for polymyalgia rheumatica?

Objective: To assess the prevalence and clinical significance of small-vessel vasculitis (SVV) surrounding an uninflamed temporal artery (TA) in patients diagnosed as having giant cell (temporal) arteritis (GCA) and/or polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).

Methods: Patients with GCA and/or PMR (n = 490) were included in this multicenter prospective study. Slides of TA biopsy specimens were reviewed by 2 pathologists who were blinded with regard to clinical information.

Pathological features of temporal arteries in patients with giant cell arteritis presenting with permanent visual loss.

Background: Permanent visual loss (PVL) is the most feared complication of giant cell arteritis (GCA), and its risk factors are still unclear.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to assess the pathological features predictive of PVL on temporal artery biopsy (TAB) specimens in patients with GCA.

Methods: The slides of 391 TAB specimens from patients with GCA were reviewed by two pathologists without clinical information.

[Incidence of cardiovascular events in giant cell arteritis: preliminary results of a prospective double cohort study (GRACG)].

Unlabelled: Giant cell arteritis is the most frequent vasculitis. Cardiovascular events such as cerebrovascular accident or ischemic heart disease may occur in patients with giant cell arteritis. However, their real incidence, as well as their relative risk compared to the general population, remains unknown.

[Giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica: influence of past pregnancies? The GRACG multicenter case control study].

Background: The overprevalence of giant cell arteritis (GCA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) in women remains unexplained. Microchimerism pathogenicity has been discussed in some systemic diseases. We tested history of pregnancy as a risk factor for GCA.