Prognostic value of quantifying vascular inflammation through ultrasound in patients with giant cell arteritis: the MAGiCUS study

Molina-Collada, J; Cowley, S; Kirby, C; Kane, D; Harkins, P; Conway, R; Castrejón, I; Álvaro-Gracia, JM; Ponte, C; Monti, S; Milanesi, A; Conticini, E; Placido, F; El Miedany, Y; Monjo-Henry, I; Padoan, R; Iorio, L; Macchioni, P; Salvarani, C; Estrada, P; Camacho, Ó; Karalilova, R; Blanco, B; Moragues, C; Bond, M; Prieto Peña, D; Sánchez, J; de Agustín, JJ; Santamaría, PC; Mera Varela, A; Calvo-Aranda, E; Quick, V; González Navarro, P; Vellosillo González, P; Dejaco, C; de Miguel, E; MAGiCUS Project Collaborative Group

doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keag341

Vasculitis & polymyalgia rheumatica

Prognostic value of quantifying vascular inflammation through ultrasound in patients with giant cell arteritis: the MAGiCUS study

Rheumatology (Oxford)Published 30 Jun 2026Prospective cohort study

Main findingResultOdds ratio 1.19 95% CI 1.08–1.34

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Authors' conclusion

Ultrasound-based quantification of vascular inflammation has prognostic value for predicting relapses during follow-up in GCA. Higher baseline, 1-month and 3-months OGUS are associated with an increased probability of clinical relapse.

Study context

Population: Newly diagnosed giant cell arteritis (GCA) patients; US of temporal and axillary arteries at baseline, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months; vascular inflammation quantified by OMERACT GCA Ultrasonographic Score (OGUS)
Participants: 156 participants19 centres

Exposure: Relapsing vs non-relapsing patients; OGUS as predictor of relapse
Relapsen = 31
Outcome: Occurrence of the first clinical relapse
Follow-up: Between 6 and 12 months

Methodological detailsinternational, multicentre, observational

International
Multicentre
Observational

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

6–12 months

Odds ratio

1.19

95% CI 1.08–1.34

Baseline OGUS (per 0.1-unit increase)

OR 1.19 (95% CI 1.08–1.34)

Per 0.1-unit increase, as printed

Relapse: 31 (19.9%)
Baseline OGUS significantly higher in relapsing patients: 1.58 vs 1.16, P < 0.001

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

OGUS at 1 month, per 0.1-unit increase, and relapse

Multivariate OR: OR 1.37; 95% CI: 1.17, 1.66
AUC for predicting relapse: 0.74 (95% CI: 0.60, 0.85)

OGUS at 3 months, per 0.1-unit increase, and relapse

Multivariate OR: OR 1.51; 95% CI: 1.20, 1.98
AUC for predicting relapse: 0.67 (95% CI: 0.56, 0.78)

OGUS change from baseline in patients without relapse · all follow-up visits

OGUS significantly lower than baseline at all follow-up visits: −0.15 to −0.35

Reference

Authors: Molina-Collada J, Cowley S, Kirby C, Kane D, Harkins P, Conway R, et al.
All 37 authors
Molina-Collada J, Cowley S, Kirby C, Kane D, Harkins P, Conway R, Castrejón I, Álvaro-Gracia JM, Ponte C, Monti S, Milanesi A, Conticini E, Placido F, El Miedany Y, Monjo-Henry I, Padoan R, Iorio L, Macchioni P, Salvarani C, Estrada P, Camacho Ó, Karalilova R, Blanco B, Moragues C, Bond M, Prieto Peña D, Sánchez J, de Agustín JJ, Santamaría PC, Mera Varela A, Calvo-Aranda E, Quick V, González Navarro P, Vellosillo González P, Dejaco C, de Miguel E, MAGiCUS Project Collaborative Group
Journal: Rheumatology (Oxford)
Published: 30 Jun 2026
DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keag341
PubMed: 42378435

Topic: Vasculitis & polymyalgia rheumatica

Exposure definitions

Relapse: first clinical relapse between 6 and 12 months

Key notes

Multivariate analysis
Multivariate analysis

Original publication

Prognostic value of quantifying vascular inflammation through ultrasound in patients with giant cell arteritis: the MAGiCUS study. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 30 June 2026. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keag341

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