Giant Cell Arteritis: 2018 Review

Anne Winkler; David True

Giant Cell Arteritis: 2018 Review

Mo Med. 2018 Sep-Oct;115(5):468-470.

Authors

Anne Winkler¹, David True²

Affiliations

¹ Anne Winkler, MD, PhD, MACP, FACR, MSMA member since 2003, on the Editorial Board for Rheumatology for Missouri Medicine. She is on the clinical faculty of Missouri State University in Southwest Missouri and has been principal investigator in multiple clinical trials.
² David True, DO, FACR, practices rheumatology in Southwest Missouri and has been principal investigator in multiple clinical trials.

PMID: 30385998
PMCID: PMC6205276

Abstract

Giant cell arteritis is the most common large vessel vasculitis. Classic symptoms include headaches, scalp tenderness, visual loss and muscle stiffness and pain. First line treatment is with high dose steroids but methotrexate may be of some help in decreasing steroid use. Tocilizumab has been shown to significantly decrease relapse rate and lower steroid cumulative dose.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use*
Drug Therapy, Combination
Giant Cell Arteritis / complications
Giant Cell Arteritis / drug therapy*
Giant Cell Arteritis / pathology*
Headache / etiology
Humans
Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
Methotrexate / therapeutic use*
Muscle Rigidity / etiology
Scalp / pathology
Vision Disorders / etiology

Substances

Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
Immunosuppressive Agents
tocilizumab
Methotrexate