Is elevated production of interleukin-6 associated with a lower incidence of disease-related ischemic events in patients with giant-cell arteritis : angiogenic activity of interleukin-6 as a potential protective mechanism?
GCA patients with ischemic complications have lower tissue expression and circulating levels of IL-6 than patients with no ischemic events. IL-6 has relevant direct effects on vascular wall components that might be protective: IL-6 activates a functional program related to angiogenesis that may compensate for ischemia in patients with GCA.
Older subjects with IPC are more likely to undergo imaging follow-up compared to subjects without IPC, yet increasing number of follow-up studies does not decrease the odds of death.