Vasculitis & polymyalgia rheumatica
Complete PET/CT extinction and subsequent risk of aortic dilation in patients with giant cell arteritis-related large vessel vasculitis treated with tocilizumab
Authors' conclusion
This study suggests that TCZ is an interesting therapeutic option for achieving complete metabolic response on PET/CT in patients with GCA-related LVV. The subsequent risk of aortic dilation may be reduced.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA)-related large vessel vasculitis (LVV) demonstrated on PET/CT, treated with TCZ, with at least one repeated PET/CT64 women (70%)
- Participants
- 91 patients
- Outcome
- Proportion of patients with vascular extinction on repeated PET/CT during or after TCZ treatment (grade 0 or 1 on the visual vascular to liver FDG uptake grading scale)
Methodological detailsmulticentre
- Multicentre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Clinical remission and complete metabolic response on PET/CT
Clinical remission and complete metabolic response on PET/CT
69 patients
76%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Discontinued all GCA treatments without relapse >12 months after negative PET/CT (among complete responders)
- Discontinued all GCA treatments, no relapse after >12 months of follow-up
- 30
Relapse of LVV on a third PET/CT within 12 months after TCZ discontinuation
- Relapse of LVV
- 13 (14%)
Aortic dilation during follow-up
- Complete metabolic extinction
- one (1%)
- No complete and persisting PET/CT extinction
- four (18%)
- Log-rank test
- P = 0.006
Original publication
Complete PET/CT extinction and subsequent risk of aortic dilation in patients with giant cell arteritis-related large vessel vasculitis treated with tocilizumab. RMD Open. Published 27 March 2026. doi:10.
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