Observing Disease Patterns and Treatment Effects in Giant Cell Arteritis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica in Denmark

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating whether new imaging methods can help classify giant cell arteritis GCA and polymyalgia rheumatica PMR to better predict how patients respond to treatment, their risk of relapse, and possible complications. This study aims to use these insights to guide treatment plans, improve disease control, and reduce damage caused by the disease or its treatment. It is a national observational study focused on patients with GCA and PMR, common inflammatory conditions in older adults. Participants will be enrolled at any stage of their disease and data will be collected through a national Danish database. The study will compare steroid treatment doses between different forms of GCA and between PMR patients with or without certain vascular involvement. Imaging with FDG-PETCT and clinical data will be collected at various visits, such as enrollment, 2 months, 6 months, annually, and at 2 years after diagnosis. Blood samples will also be collected through a clinical biobank. During the study, data entry will occur at specified visits to track disease progress and treatment response. Researchers will monitor outcomes such as cumulative steroid doses and incidence of aortic dilatation or complications over time, with assessments up to 10 years. Regular audits will ensure data quality, and linkage with national medical registries will support comprehensive analysis. Participation involves clinical assessments, imaging, and blood sample collection following Danish guidelines.

DANIsh VASculitis Database (DANIVAS)