Advances in the treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica.

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a common inflammatory disorder affecting individuals over 50. The cornerstone of PMR treatment remains oral glucocorticoids (GCs), with initial doses tailored to the risk of relapse and comorbidities. However, relapses occur in up to 76% of cases, and long-term GC use is associated with significant toxicity, affecting up to 85% of patients.

To prophylax or not to prophylax? The role of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole as a prophylactic agent in systemic vasculitis: the case of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody- associated vasculitis and giant cell arteritis.

Inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, including systemic vasculitis, increase the risk of infection due to immunosuppressive treatments and disease-related immune dysfunction. In this viewpoint, we focused on patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) and giant cell arteritis (GCA). We critically reviewed the literature on infectious risks and the role of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) as a prophylactic agent in these conditions.

The giant cell arteritis (GCA) ultrasound score (OGUS) at diagnosis and after initial treatment predicts future relapses in GCA patients: results of a multicentre prospective study.

Objectives: To test the prognostic role of ultrasonography at diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA) and the change of ultrasound abnormalities during the initial weeks of follow-up for the prediction of relapse, vascular complications, or initiation of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).

Methods: Prospective, multicentre study of patients with new onset GCA undergoing serial ultrasound assessment at fixed time points. The Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) GCA ultrasonography score (OGUS) was used to quantify vessel wall abnormalities.

Evidence on treat to target strategies in polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis: a systematic literature review.

Objectives: To inform an international task force about current evidence on Treat to Target (T2T) strategies in PMR and GCA.

Methods: A systematic literature research (SLR) was conducted in Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, clinicaltrials.gov from their inception date to May 2022, and in the EULAR/ACR abstract database (2019-2021).

Treat-to-target recommendations in giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica.

Objectives: To develop treat-to-target (T2T) recommendations in giant cell arteritis (GCA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).

Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted to retrieve data on treatment targets and outcomes in GCA/PMR as well as to identify the evidence for the effectiveness of a T2T-based management approach in these diseases. Based on evidence and expert opinion, the task force (29 participants from 10 countries consisting of physicians, a healthcare professional and a patient) developed recommendations, with consensus obtained through voting.

What is a response in randomised controlled trials in giant cell arteritis?

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are the gold standard for treatment of giant cell arteritis (GCA); however, there is a need for studies on GC-sparing agents, given that up to 85% of patients receiving GC only develop adverse events. Previous randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have applied different primary endpoints, limiting the comparison of treatment effects in meta-analyses and creating an undesired heterogeneity of outcomes. The harmonisation of response assessment is therefore an important unmet need in GCA research.