Subjects
inflammation, arteritis
INFLAMMATION, GCA, ARTERITIS
All subjects were diagnosed with GCA if the 1990 ACR criteria were fulfilled and/or if patients had typical US features of arteritis characterized by hypo- or medium echogenic, homogeneous, circumferential wall thickening combined with increased levels of CRP and/or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and initially a good clinical response to corticosteroids (In this retrospective study from the Swedish Rheumatology Units at the University Hospital in Linköping and the County Hospital in Jönköping, 15 consecutive GCA patients treated for at least 6 months with JAKi were included, with 14 individuals treated with baricitinib. JAKi was initiated based on inflammatory activity suspected to depend on GCA, reflected by systemic inflammation and clinical symptoms, despite unsatisfying high doses of prednisolone. For evaluation of clinical efficacy, ≥6 months of JAKi therapy was required. Patients were followed from inclusion, at 3 and 6 months, and for most of the patients, there was at least one additional time point of assessment referred to as the “last follow-up.”