Comparing Short and Long Corticosteroid Treatment Plans for Giant Cell Arteritis in Adults Over 50

What this Trial Is About

Giant cell arteritis GCA is a condition mainly affecting elderly people, often over 80 years old, and is usually treated with corticosteroids. Although corticosteroids initially work well, relapses are common when the dose is reduced. The study compares two corticosteroid tapering schedules a shorter North American style and a longer European style, to see if the shorter treatment is as good at preventing relapse while reducing side effects. This comparison is important as corticosteroid use over time can cause serious side effects like metabolic, muscle, infectious, and neuropsychiatric problems. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will follow a corticosteroid tapering schedule over 28 weeks, and the other over 52 weeks. The starting corticosteroid dose and tapering amounts are adjusted based on body weight. The study looks at patients newly diagnosed with GCA, giving them treatment based on one of these two standardized regimens. An interim analysis will be done at week 28. During the study, participants will be monitored up to 52 weeks to assess whether they remain in complete remission without relapse. Researchers will measure relapse rates, cumulative corticosteroid doses, and treatment-related side effects. Safety evaluations will be conducted following established criteria. The findings may influence future treatment practices by balancing effectiveness and side effect reduction.

Giant Cell Arteritis: Comparison Between Two Standardized Corticosteroids Tapering