RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Factors Associated with Relapse and Dependence on Glucocorticoids in Giant Cell Arteritis JF The Journal of Rheumatology JO J Rheumatol FD The Journal of Rheumatology SP 108 OP 116 DO 10.3899/jrheum.181127 VO 47 IS 1 A1 Anael Dumont A1 Jean-Jacques Parienti A1 Claire Delmas A1 Jonathan Boutemy A1 Gwénola Maigné A1 Nicolas Martin Silva A1 Audrey Sultan A1 Gaétane Planchard A1 Achille Aouba A1 Hubert de Boysson YR 2020 UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/47/1/108.abstract AB Objective. To identify characteristics and factors associated with relapse and glucocorticoid (GC) dependence in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA).Methods. We retrospectively analyzed 326 consecutive patients with GCA followed for at least 12 months. Factors associated with relapse and GC dependence were identified in multivariable analyses.Results. The 326 patients (73% women) were followed up for 62 (12–262) months. During followup, 171 (52%) patients relapsed, including 113 (35%) who developed GC dependence. Relapsing patients had less history of stroke (p = 0.01) and presented large-vessel vasculitis (LVV) more frequently on imaging (p = 0.01) than patients without relapse. During the first months, therapeutic strategy did not differ among relapsing and nonrelapsing patients. GC-dependent patients were less likely to have a history of stroke (p = 0.004) and presented LVV on imaging more frequently (p = 0.005) than patients without GC-dependent disease. In multivariable analyses, LVV was an independent predictive factor of relapse (HR 1.49, 95% CI 1.002–2.12; p = 0.04) and GC dependence (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.19–4.05; p = 0.01). Conversely, stroke was a protective factor against relapse (HR 0.21, 95% CI 0.03–0.68; p = 0.005) and GC-dependent disease (OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.001–0.31; p = 0.0005). Patients with a GC-dependent disease who received a GC-sparing agent had a shorter GC treatment duration than those without (p = 0.008).Conclusion. In this study, LVV was an independent predictor of relapse and GC dependence. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings and to determine whether patients with LVV require a different treatment approach.