TY - JOUR T1 - Causes of Cardiovascular Ischemic Events in Giant Cell Arteritis JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol SP - 2092 LP - 2093 DO - 10.3899/jrheum.161237 VL - 43 IS - 12 AU - JUTTA G. RICHTER AU - OLIVER SANDER AU - MATTHIAS SCHNEIDER Y1 - 2016/12/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/43/12/2092.abstract N2 - Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a granulomatous vasculitis with rising incidence in the sixth to eighth decade of age, when cardiovascular (CV) events put survival, health, and function per se at risk1. The outcomes of GCA patients with marked tissue tropism in certain vascular regions might be strongly influenced by CV events2. CV disease seems to be pronounced in patients with GCA in the first month after diagnosis compared to the age-matched general population, but the risk may also be increased in the followup period (median 3.9 yrs)3.CV events including strokes in patients with GCA, especially in the longterm followup, are not well explored. It remains difficult to distinguish whether the events are related to the inflammatory disease or to nonspecific atherosclerotic lesions, other arterial wall changes due to vascular aging, or other accompanying CV risk factors3,4.In the current issue of The Journal, Pugnet, et al describe predictors for CV hospitalization of patients with GCA in France based on an administrative database, focusing on the effect of statin exposure5. The authors conclude that patients with GCA have a higher risk for a “new” CV disease leading to an inpatient stay in a cardiology unit, stroke … Address correspondence to Dr. J.G. Richter, Policlinic for Rheumatology and Hiller Research Centre for Rheumatology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany. E-mail: richter{at}rheumanet.org ER -