Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40012355›Full record

ArticleACR open rheumatology2025

Repeated Cranial and Large-Vessel Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Scans and the Association With Structural Aortic Disease in Giant Cell Arteritis: A Five-Year Observational Study.

Anthony M Sammel, Ivan Ho Shon, Daniel A Moses, Stacey Fredericks, Gita Mathur, Claudia M Hillenbrand, Edward Hsiao, Geoffrey Schembri, Rodger Laurent, Eva A Wegner

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In one paragraph

Article in ACR open rheumatology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Anthony M SammelPrince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia, and University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Ivan Ho ShonPrince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia, and University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2036-8190
Daniel A MosesPrince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia, and University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Stacey FredericksPrince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.
Gita MathurPrince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia, and University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Claudia M HillenbrandUniversity of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Edward HsiaoRoyal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.
Geoffrey SchembriRoyal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.
Rodger LaurentRoyal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.
Eva A WegnerPrince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia, and University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Funding

Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveGiant cell arteritis (GCA) is characterized by cranial ischemia at diagnosis and late aortic structural disease. Repeated combined cranial and large-vessel fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) scans were performed to assess the distribution of vasculitis activity over time and the relationship with clinical outcomes.

methodsPatients were eligible if they were enrolled in a 64-patient inception suspected GCA cohort in 2016 to 2017 and had a positive temporal artery biopsy and/or PET/CT scan at diagnosis. At five years, patients underwent a PET/CT scan, magnetic resonance aortogram, and clinical assessment. Scans were reported for overall metabolic disease activity and a visual FDG avidity grade at each vascular territory.

resultsSixteen patients met inclusion criteria, and 11 attended the five-year visit. Median age was 75 years, 73% were women, and all were in remission. At five years, 4 (36%) patients had aortic dilatation (range 40-43 mm), and five (45%) had globally active scans. Cranial artery activity resolved in all patients between diagnosis and five years, but aortitis developed in four patients who previously had PET-inactive aortas. Disease-modifying rheumatic drug (DMARD) use at five years was associated with scan inactivity (P = 0.02). There was a trend toward a higher mean aortic diameter in those with aortitis at five years (40.2 mm vs 36.0 mm, P = 0.06) but not those with aortitis at diagnosis.

conclusionVasculitis activity changed from cranial and large vessel to exclusively large vessel by five years. This may explain the preponderance of early cranial and late aortic complications in GCA. The potential role of long-term DMARDs to mitigate smoldering vasculitis warrants further study.

Identifiers

PMID40012355
PMCPMC11865633

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