13 Jun 2025 • Patients aged 50 and above with giant cell arteritis (GCA) were found to have a markedly elevated risk of major vascular complications compared to matched controls, according to a large US-based study.

Over 5 years, GCA patients showed nearly double the risk of any aortic aneurysms (3.59% vs 1.75%; aHR 1.98), including thoracic (2.23% vs 1.02%; aHR 2.01), abdominal (1.80% vs 0.82%; aHR 2.03), and thoracoabdominal (0.32% vs 0.14%; aHR 3.68).

Carotid artery stenosis was also more frequent in the GCA group (7.20% vs. 4.37%; aHR 1.59).

Visual symptoms did not influence aneurysm risk but heightened the risk of carotid artery stenosis (8.95% vs. 7.43%; aHR 1.24).

These findings emphasize the need for vascular monitoring in GCA patients, especially for carotid complications in those with visual manifestations.

Source: Science Direct | Read Full Story