Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40063878›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2025

Biologic therapies for the treatment of large vessel vasculitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Siyuan Chen, Xiao Cui, Yue Chen, Xiaogang Guo

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
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

4 authors.

Siyuan ChenDepartment of Cardiovascular Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.ORCID 0009-0001-6374-1303
Xiao CuiDepartment of Cardiovascular Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
Yue ChenDepartment of Cardiovascular Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
Xiaogang GuoDepartment of Cardiovascular Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.ORCID 0000-0001-6754-1432

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China Youth Projects 81900246
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo summarize the existing evidence from double-blind randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies regarding the effects of biologic agents for the treatment of large vessel vasculitis (LVV).

methodsA systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov covering the period from database inception to May 3rd, 2023. Double-blind RCTs and cohort studies reporting biologic therapies' effects on LVV including giant cell arteritis (GCA) and Takayasu's arteritis (TAK) with outcomes of interest in English were included. The primary outcome of interest was relapse rates during glucocorticoid tapering. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool 2.0 and the Risk of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Interventions tool were used for the quality assessment. Random-effects models were used for meta-analysis.

resultsOf the 4599 references retrieved, 10 RCTs regarding GCA, 6 cohort studies, and 2 RCTs regarding TAK were included, comprising 997 participants in total. All the included RCTs were of low risk of bias, while the 6 cohort studies were of moderate to serious risk of bias. Meta-analysis suggested a significant superiority of biologic agents in prolonging relapse-free survival, increasing glucocorticoid taper rate, and decreasing cumulative glucocorticoids dose for both GCA and TAK. Additionally, GCA patients using biologic agents had significantly lower relapse rates and ESR levels with higher remission rates. Trends of favoring biologic agents in reducing relapse rate, ITAS-2010, ITAS-A, ESR, and CRP along with increased remission rate for TAK were also observed.

conclusionsBiologic agents significantly improved clinical outcomes in LVV by reducing relapse rates, enhancing remission, and enabling safer glucocorticoid tapering, offering an important therapeutic advantage for managing both GCA and TAK. Further well-designed studies and corresponding meta-analyses are needed to validate their long-term efficacy and safety.

Indexed as

Biological TherapyGiant Cell ArteritisTakayasu ArteritisGlucocorticoidsHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicRecurrenceTreatment OutcomeGlucocorticoids

Identifiers

PMID40063878
PMCPMC11893120

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.