Optic nerve sheath enhancement on orbital MRI in giant cell arteritis.

Background: Differentiating arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (A-AION) due to giant cell arteritis (GCA) from non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NA-AION) may pose a diagnostic challenge. Our study aimed to assess the use of standard orbital MRI in distinguishing ocular manifestations of GCA from NA-AION.

Methods: This study included 25 consecutive patients (11 GCA, 14 NA-AION) who underwent contrast-enhanced orbital MRIs within 3 months of symptom onset.

Unveiling the Uncommon: A Case Report of Horner's Syndrome as a Rare Glimpse Into Giant Cell Arteritis.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is an inflammatory vasculitis affecting large and medium-sized arteries, leading to complications such as arterial dissection, blindness, and stroke. Rarely, GCA presents with Horner's syndrome due to sympathetic neuron involvement from arterial inflammation. This case report discusses an 82-year-old female with hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and arthritis who presented with a 24 h history of right eye ptosis, blurred vision, dizziness, and aching eye pain.

Cardiology-Rheumatology Intersections in Aortitis and Aortic Aneurysms: Focus on Early Recognition and Management.

Aortitis is an uncommon cause of aortic aneurysms. Arterial inflammation can lead to irreversible vascular damage. Early recognition is necessary for treatment to prevent permanent consequences of vessel inflammation.

DOXY do, or DOXY Don't? Syphilis and doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis: A case report.

The resurgence of syphilis across Europe has led to a growing number of atypical cases, often characterised by varied symptoms that can delay diagnosis. We report the case of a young man who has sex with men (MSM), presenting with persistent headaches and swelling of the forehead suggestive of giant cell arteritis (GCA). Despite a recent negative syphilis test, further investigations confirmed the diagnosis of neurosyphilis.

Different giant cell arteritis phenotypes may present distinct types of ischaemic complications.

Objectives: To determine if the subtype of vascular ultrasound (US) presentation is associated with different types of ischaemic complications (IC) in giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Methods: Retrospective observational analysis of GCA clinically confirmed patients referred to US fast-track clinics at two centres. All patients underwent baseline US of cranial and extracranial arteries (carotid, subclavian and axillary).

Infective agents and polymyalgia rheumatica: key discussion points emerging from a narrative review of published literature.

Introduction: The aetiology of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is unknown. Recently, reports on cases of PMR following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have revived the role of infection as an aetiological or triggering factor. It is estimated that patients with PMR have manifestations of giant cell arteritis (GCA) in < 20% of cases.

Giant cell arteritis following SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a vasculitis characterised by arterial inflammation, with permanent vision loss being a feared complication. The association between GCA and viral infections is well-known, but there is limited data regarding its relationship to COVID-19. A man in his 80s with a recent history of COVID-19 developed sudden vision loss, persistent headaches and jaw claudication.

Field testing and clinical validation of the mSQUASH to measure physical activity in patients with Sjögren's disease.

Objectives: Regular physical activity is recommended in patients with rheumatic diseases. In order to uniformly measure physical activity, our aim was to perform field testing of the modified Short QUestionnaire to ASsess Health enhancing physical activity (mSQUASH) in Sjögren's disease (SjD), together with other rheumatic diseases, and to investigate construct validity and test-retest reliability of the mSQUASH in patients with SjD.

Methods: The mSQUASH was tested by conducting semi-structured interviews in patients with SjD (n=10), systemic lupus erythematosus (n=10), giant cell arteritis/polymyalgia rheumatica (n=10) and axial spondyloarthritis (n=13) to check for understandability, interpretation and relevance.

The Set up and the Triggers: An Update on the Risk Factors for Giant Cell Arteritis.

Purpose Of Review: To describe recent research relevant to factors which predispose to giant cell arteritis (GCA) and those which trigger its manifestation, with particular emphasis on the more recent and controversial associations (COVID-19, vaccination, novel medications) which have changed the medical landscape and perhaps GCA prevalence.

Recent Findings: GCA remains more prevalent in Caucasians but nevertheless affects other racial groups. Certain HLA haplotypes (i.

Compression ratio: a novel method to quantify compressibility as a diagnostic measurement in giant cell arteritis.

Objectives: Ultrasonographic assessment of giant cell arteritis (GCA) relies on the demonstration of a non-compressible halo. Several ultrasonographic methods have been developed to quantify arterial wall thickness, however arterial compressibility has not been quantified. This study presents a possible solution for quantifying compressibility to assist in diagnosing GCA.

Clonal T cell populations scarcely impair patients with rheumatic diseases: a prospective long-term follow up study.

Background: Clonal T cell populations are frequently detected in patients with rheumatic diseases. The relevance of this finding is often uncertain, as the clinical spectrum can range from being asymptomatic to T cell leukemia. Former studies suggested that certain anti-rheumatic drugs might influence the course of the clonal T cell populations.

Tear inflammatory cytokine profiles in orbital inflammatory disease.

Tear inflammatory cytokines are a novel biomarker studied in a range of ocular surface diseases, periorbital and orbital conditions. This single-centre prospective study between 2022 and 2024 aims to characterise tear cytokine profiles (Interleukin-1β [IL-1β], IL-2, IL-6, Interferon-γ [IFN-γ] and Tumour Necrosis Factor-α [TNF- α]) in orbital inflammatory disease (OID). OID patients had pre-treatment tear collection via micropipette, and cytokine analysis via multiplex bead array analysis.

Contraceptives or Hormone Replacement Therapy and Associations with Autoimmune Conditions: Exploring Effects of Estrogen Analog Supplementation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of estrogen and progesterone analog supplementation on the development of autoimmune conditions.

Methods: This retrospective observational study used data from the TriNetX network, which comprised over 100 million patients from 89 health care organizations. We compared patients exposed to estrogen and progesterone analogs to those exposed to progesterone-only therapy, using 1:1 propensity score matching based on age, ethnicity, and additional criteria.

Tocilizumab in cranial and extracranial giant cell arteritis: a national multicenter study of 471 cases.

Objective: The spectrum of giant cell arteritis (GCA) includes different vascular phenotypes. Tocilizumab (TCZ) is the only biologic currently approved regardless these phenotypes. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of TCZ in different phenotypes.

Higher risk profile among patients with TET2-mutated giant cell arteritis: a cluster analysis.

Objective: We aimed to assess the prevalence of clonal haematopoiesis (CH) in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) compared with controls and individuals with other autoimmune diseases (AIDs) and to identify high-risk clinical/genetic profiles that could influence disease outcomes.

Methods: In a prospective observational study at three hospitals, we included 49 patients diagnosed with GCA, 48 patients with other AIDs and 27 control participants. We used next-generation sequencing to detect clonal haematopoiesis (CH) among them.

Combining paracentral acute middle maculopathy and peripapillary fluid as biomarkers in anterior ischemic optic neuropathy: OCT biomarkers in anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.

Purpose: To determine if paracentral acute middle maculopathy (PAMM) and peripapillary intraretinal and subretinal fluid (IRF/SRF) could help distinguish between arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (A-AION) and non-arteritic AION (NA-AION) at an early stage.

Design: Nested prospective cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study.

Methods: This study used single-center optical coherence tomography (OCT) data from 8 patients with A-AION and 24 patients with NA-AION from two prospective cross-sectional studies with consecutive sampling (ClinicalTrials.

Targeting interleukin-6 pathways in giant cell arteritis management: A narrative review of evidence.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a chronic inflammatory vasculitis with a significant impact on vascular and patient health. It may present with non-specific symptoms and can lead to severe complications if not managed effectively. This narrative review explores the treatment of GCA with interleukin-6 (IL-6) pathway inhibitors, focusing on key studies from selected databases published between 2018 and 2024.