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The Joint Vasculitis Registry in German-speaking countries (GeVas): subgroup analysis of 195 GCA patients

P. Wallmeier¹, S. Arnold², A. Tais³, G. Ihorst⁴, M. Janoschke⁵, F. Schubach⁶, P. Aries⁷, R. Bergner⁸, J.P. Bremer⁹, N. Görl¹⁰, E. Gutdeutsch¹¹, B. Hellmich¹², J. Henes¹³, B.F. Hoyer¹⁴, A. Kangowski¹⁵, I. Kötter¹⁶, M. Krusche¹⁷, T. Magnus¹⁸, C. Metzler¹⁹, U. Müller-Ladner²⁰, M. Schaier²¹, U. Schönermarck²², J. Thiel²³, L. Unger²⁴, N. Venhoff²⁵, J. Weinmann-Menke²⁶, J. Petersen²⁷, P. Lamprecht²⁸, C. Iking-Konert²⁹

Author information

Department of Nephrology, Asklepios Klinikum Barmbek, Hamburg, and III Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Systemic Inflammatory Diseases, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. piawallmeier@hotmail.com
Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Lübeck, Germany.
Clinical Trials Unit, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany.
Clinical Trials Unit, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany.
Clinical Trials Unit, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany.
Interdisciplinary Medical Intensive Care, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany.
Immunologikum, Department of Rheumatology, Hamburg, Germany.
Klinikum Ludwigshafen, Klinik für Innere Medizin, Hämato-Onkologie, Nephrologie, Infektiologie und Rheumatologie, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany.
Immunologikum, Department of Rheumatology, Hamburg, Germany.
Klinikum Südstadt Rostock, Klinik für Innere Medizin, Rheumatologie und Immunologie, Rostock, Germany.
Department of Rheumatology, Barmherzige Brüder Regensburg, Germany.
Vasculitis Centre South, Medius Kliniken, Teaching Hospital University of Tübingen, Department of Internal Medicine, Rheumatology, Pulmonology, Nephrology and Diabetology, Kirchheim unter Teck, Germany.
Centre for Interdisciplinary Clinical Immunology, Rheumatology and Autoinflammatory Diseases, Vasculitis Center South and Department of Internal Medicine II, Tübingen, Germany.
Department of Rheumatology, UKSH Campus Kiel, Germany.
Klinikum Südstadt Rostock, Klinik für Innere Medizin, Rheumatologie und Immunologie, Rostock, Germany.
Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Lübeck, and Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Klinikum Bad Bramstedt, Germany.
III Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Systemic Inflammatory Diseases, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Department of Rheumatology, Barmherzige Brüder Regensburg, and Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatolgy, Klinikum Bielefeld, Germany.
Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Campus Kerckhoff, Bad Nauheim, Germany.
Department of Nephrology, University Medical Center Heidelberg, Germany.
Department of Medicine IV, Nephrology Division, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany.
Clinical Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Medical Center Graz, Austria.
Medical Department 1, Städtisches Klinikum Dresden, Germany.
Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany.
Department of Nephrology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany.
Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Klinikum Bad Bramstedt, and MEDIZINICUM, Hamburg, Germany.
Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Lübeck, Germany.
III Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Systemic Inflammatory Diseases, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, and Department of Rheumatology, Stadtspital Zürich, Switzerland.

CER17490
2024 Vol.42, N°4
PI 0895, PF 0904
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PMID: 38683207 [PubMed]

Received: 18/01/2024
Accepted : 09/04/2024
In Press: 19/04/2024
Published: 29/04/2024

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is one of the most common forms of vasculitis. There is an abundance of studies which are conducted in a randomised controlled trial setting but limited with respect to cohort size and follow-up time. GeVas is the first large-scale registry for vasculitides in German-speaking countries that enables to evaluate this rare disease. Herein we focus on the subgroup of GCA patients including follow-up data up to one year.
METHODS:
GeVas is a prospective, web-based, multicentre registry for the documentation of organ manifestations, outcomes, and therapy regimens in vasculitides. Recruitment started in June 2019. By April 2023, 15 centres were initiated and have started to enrol patients.
RESULTS:
After 4 years, 195 GCA-patients were included in the registry, of which 64% were female and 36% were male. The average age was 76 years at the time of recruitment (IQR=69-82). Seventy-nine percent were included in the registry because of a newly diagnosed GCA and 21% because of a relapse. At the first assessment most of the patients (89%) described general symptoms. Thirty-one percent stated ocular symptoms. Cranial symptoms were documented in 78% of the cases. All patients were documented with immunosuppressive treatment at start, of whom 95% received prednisolone, 16% cyclophosphamide, 20% methotrexate, and 48% tocilizumab. After three months 62% and after one year 91% of the patients achieved remission.
CONCLUSIONS:
Regarding demographics, clinical manifestations and diagnostics, our study showed a similar composition compared to other studies. However, our data differed in terms of treatment regimens.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55563/clinexprheumatol/d3o0gu