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Purpose of Review <p>There is a strong need for tools to monitor disease activity and identify prognostic markers to ensure optimal treatment efficacy in giant cell arteritis (GCA). Vascular ultrasonography (US) is widely implemented in clinical practice to establish diagnosis, and ongoing research continues to investigate its broader utility in GCA. In this review, we explore the role of US in disease activity monitoring and as a prognostic marker.</p> Recent Findings <p>US scoring systems reflecting the extent and severity of vascular inflammation, such as the OMERACT Ultrasonography GCA Score (OGUS), halo count and Southend Halo Score have shown sensitive to change. Positive US findings and worsening in these scores have been reported at relapse. Recent studies indicate that OGUS can predict relapse and the need for glucocorticoid sparing treatment.</p> Summary <p>Sensitivity to change of US is well-supported by the literature but the discriminative and prognostic value of US is not well established. Further studies are needed to define an US relapse, including the degree of vessel wall thickening, the rate at which it develops in parallel to clinical activity, and whether US provides added value in clinical practice. Additional prospective studies are warranted to confirm and evaluate recent prognostic findings of US.</p>

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Vascular Ultrasonography in Giant Cell Arteritis: Sensitivity to Change, Discrimination and Prognostic Role

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月6日

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  • Morten Hansen,
  • Christian M. Sørensen,
  • Ellen-Margrethe Hauge,
  • Kresten K. Keller,
  • Lene Terslev,
  • Stavros Chrysidis,
  • Berit D. Nielsen

摘要

Purpose of Review

There is a strong need for tools to monitor disease activity and identify prognostic markers to ensure optimal treatment efficacy in giant cell arteritis (GCA). Vascular ultrasonography (US) is widely implemented in clinical practice to establish diagnosis, and ongoing research continues to investigate its broader utility in GCA. In this review, we explore the role of US in disease activity monitoring and as a prognostic marker.

Recent Findings

US scoring systems reflecting the extent and severity of vascular inflammation, such as the OMERACT Ultrasonography GCA Score (OGUS), halo count and Southend Halo Score have shown sensitive to change. Positive US findings and worsening in these scores have been reported at relapse. Recent studies indicate that OGUS can predict relapse and the need for glucocorticoid sparing treatment.

Summary

Sensitivity to change of US is well-supported by the literature but the discriminative and prognostic value of US is not well established. Further studies are needed to define an US relapse, including the degree of vessel wall thickening, the rate at which it develops in parallel to clinical activity, and whether US provides added value in clinical practice. Additional prospective studies are warranted to confirm and evaluate recent prognostic findings of US.