Giant Cell Arteritis and Cardiac Comorbidity

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a large vessel vasculitis with a pathogenesis that involves two CD4 T-helper cell lineages, Th1 and Th17. The goal of GCA treatment is to achieve clinical remission and prevent complications, especially vision loss. Despite recent advances in treatment and diagnostic modalities for GCA, there continues to be a gap in the medical literature in addressing treatment and follow-up for patients with GCA after clinical remission is achieved. Of the most important issues to address in this patient population by rheumatologists and primary care physicians alike, is that of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks in GCA patients associated with the vasculitis and its mainstay of treatment with high-dose glucocorticoids over a prolonged period of time. Physicians must be aware of the CVD events that have been observed in a higher proportion compared to the general population in GCA patients, including strokes, thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections, myocardial infarctions, and peripheral vascular disease. This review will focus on the risk of CVD in GCA patients, with recommendations for management and follow-up.