Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Jan 7;23(1):14.
doi: 10.1186/s13075-020-02396-5.

Symptomatic aortitis at giant cell arteritis diagnosis: a prognostic factor of aortic event

Olivier Espitia  1 , Gauthier Blonz  2 , Geoffrey Urbanski  3 , Cédric Landron  4 , Jérôme Connault  2 , Christian Lavigne  3 , Pascal Roblot  4 , François Maillot  5 , Alexandra Audemard-Verger  5 , Mathieu Artifoni  2 , Cécile Durant  2 , Béatrice Guyomarch  6 , Mohamed Hamidou  2 , Julie Magnant  5 , Christian Agard  2 ; French Study Group for Large Vessel Vasculitis (GEFA)
Affiliations

Symptomatic aortitis at giant cell arteritis diagnosis: a prognostic factor of aortic event

Olivier Espitia et al. Arthritis Res Ther. .

Abstract

Background: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is frequently associated with aortic involvement that is likely to cause life-threatening structural complications (aneurysm, dissection). Few studies have investigated the occurrence of these complications, and no predictive factor has been identified so far. The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with the risk of aortic complications in a cohort of GCA aortitis.

Methods: Data of all patients managed with aortitis (CT or 18 FDG PET) at the diagnosis of GCA in five hospitals from May 1998 and April 2019 were retrospectively collected. Clinical features were compared according to the presence of aortitis symptoms. The predictive factors of occurrence or aggravation of aortic structural abnormalities were investigated.

Results: One hundred and seventy-one patients with GCA aortitis were included; 55 patients (32%) had symptoms of aortitis (dorsal/lumbar/abdominal pain, aortic insufficiency) at diagnosis. The median follow-up was 38 months. Aortic complications occurred after a median time of 32 months. There were 19 new aortic aneurysms or complications of aneurysm and 5 dissections. Survival without aortic complication was significantly different between the symptomatic and non-symptomatic groups (Log rank, p = 0.0003). In multivariate analysis the presence of aortitis symptoms at diagnosis (HR 6.64 [1.95, 22.6] p = 0.002) and GCA relapse (HR 3.62 [1.2, 10.9] p = 0.02) were factors associated with the occurrence of aortic complications.

Conclusion: In this study, the presence of aortitis symptoms at the diagnosis of GCA aortitis and GCA relapse were independent predictive factors of occurrence of aortic complications during follow-up.

Keywords: Aneurysm; Aortic dissection; Aortitis; Giant cell arteritis; Prognosis.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Survival without aortic complication: comparison according to the presence of aortitis symptoms at GCA diagnosis on radiographically monitored patients
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Agard C, Barrier J-H, Dupas B, Ponge T, Mahr A, Fradet G, et al. Aortic involvement in recent-onset giant cell (temporal) arteritis: a case-control prospective study using helical aortic computed tomodensitometric scan. Arthritis Rheum. 2008;59:670–676. doi: 10.1002/art.23577. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Prieto-González S, Arguis P, García-Martínez A, Espígol-Frigolé G, Tavera-Bahillo I, Butjosa M, et al. Large vessel involvement in biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis: prospective study in 40 newly diagnosed patients using CT angiography. Ann Rheum Dis. 2012; [cited 2012 Jan 21]; Available from: http://ard.bmj.com/content/early/2012/01/20/annrheumdis-2011-200865.abst.... - PubMed
    1. Dejaco C, Ramiro S, Duftner C, Besson FL, Bley TA, Blockmans D, et al. EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging in large vessel vasculitis in clinical practice. Ann Rheum Dis. 2018;77:636–643. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2017-212649. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Bienvenu B, Ly KH, Lambert M, Agard C, André M, Benhamou Y, et al. Management of giant cell arteritis: recommendations of the French Study Group for Large Vessel Vasculitis (GEFA) Rev Méd Interne. 2016;37:154–165. doi: 10.1016/j.revmed.2015.12.015. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Evans JM, Bowles CA, Bjornsson J, Mullany CJ, Hunder GG. Thoracic aortic aneurysm and rupture in giant cell arteritis. A descriptive study of 41 cases. Arthritis Rheum. 1994;37:1539–1547. doi: 10.1002/art.1780371020. - DOI - PubMed