Background
rheumatoid arthritis, GCA, active disease, anterior ischemic optic neuropathy or stroke, RA
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA (PMR), RECRUITMENT, GIANT CELL ARTERITIS, PRIMARY SYSTEMIC VASCULITIS, GCA, CORONAVIRUS, PATHOGENESIS, COMPLICATIONS
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common primary systemic vasculitis in people above 50 years of age and is more frequently reported in Caucasians and in females [Patients with GCA may present with constitutional, polymyalgia, or cranial symptoms. Ischemic complications, such as anterior ischemic optic neuropathy or stroke, may occur if treatment is delayed [Glucocorticoids (GCs) are an integral part of the treatment of GCA [The role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) is well documented in the pathogenesis of GCA, with increased IL-6 levels found in the temporal artery tissues of patients with active disease. In addition, circulating IL-6 is elevated in untreated GCA and correlates with poor clinical response [Sarilumab, another IL-6Ri, is approved worldwide for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and for polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) in the USA [This study (NCT03600805) was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sarilumab in patients with active GCA over 52 weeks. Although the protracted recruitment timelines exacerbated by the pandemic of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) led to premature discontinuation of the trial by the sponsor, we report the available findings herein.