SynthesisPloS one2014
The role of biological agents in the management of large vessel vasculitis (LVV): a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 36 citations in OpenAlex.
- Biologic therapies for the treatment of large vessel vasculitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PloS one · 2025Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Malignancy risk of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha blockers: an overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.Clinical rheumatology · 2016Pooled it
- Efficacy and Safety of Biological Agents in Giant Cell Arteritis: An Updated Meta-Analysis.Avicenna journal of medicine · 2025Review
- Current perspective on infections and mitigation strategies in primary systemic vasculitis.Current rheumatology reports · 2024Review
- Clinical observations on infliximab treatment of infantile onset Takayasu arteritis.Pediatric rheumatology online journal · 2022Article
- Takayasu Arteritis.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2018Review
- Unmasking the elusive giant: an unusual case presenting as third nerve palsy in a patient with scleroderma.BMJ case reports · 2016Article
- MRI parametric monitoring of biological therapies in primary large vessel vasculitides: a pilot study.The British journal of radiology · 2016Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundGiant cell arteritis (GCA) and Takayasu's arteritis (TAA) are large vessel vasculitides (LVV) for which corticosteroids (CS) are the mainstay for treatment. In patients with LVV unable to tolerate CS, biological agents have been used with variable effectiveness.
objectiveTo systematically review the effectiveness and safety of biological agents in patients with LVV.
methodsWe searched 5 electronic databases (inception to October 2012) and conference abstracts with no language restrictions. Two reviewers independently selected studies, extracted data and assessed methodological quality. Our protocol was registered in PROSPERO.
resultsWe included 25 studies (3 RCTs and 22 case series with ≥2 cases). 95 GCA and 98 TAA patients received biological agents. The RCTs using anti-TNF agents (infliximab, etanercept and adalimumab) did not suggest a benefit in GCA. GCA patients receiving tocilizumab, in case series, achieved remission (19 patients) and reduction of corticosteroid dose (mean difference, -16.55 mg/day (95% CI: -26.24, -6.86)). In case series, 75 patients with refractory TAA treated with infliximab discontinued CS 32% of the time. Remission was variably defined and the studies were clinically heterogeneous which precluded further analysis.
conclusionThis systematic review demonstrated a weak evidence base on which to assess the effectiveness of biological treatment in LVV. Evidence from RCTs suggests that anti-TNF agents are not effective for remission or reduction of CS use. Tocilizumab and infliximab may be effective in the management of LVV and refractory TAA, respectively, although the evidence comes from case series. Future analytical studies are needed to confirm these findings.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.