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Looking for genes linked to giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica

Studies genetic causes of giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica in patients.

Key facts

Who runs it
University of Leeds
Where
United Kingdom76 sites in 1 countryChoose a country to see its sites
Trial code
Registry title
Clinical and Immunogenetic Characterization of Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) and Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)
Status
Recruiting
People taking part
4,500 people, planned
Started
10 Jun 2005
Expected to end
31 Mar 2028
Type of study
Observational, 2 groups
Record updated
30 March 2025

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for people with giant cell arteritis (GCA) or polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). It studies genes linked to these diseases.

Age
50 years or older. Younger people can join only if they have a classical case of GCA proven by biopsy (a tissue sample).
Sex
All
Disease stage
A firm diagnosis of GCA or PMR. People found during the study can join if GCA or PMR is the most likely explanation of their symptoms.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • People unwilling or unable to give fully informed consent cannot join.
  • People unwilling to state their ethnic group cannot join.

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 4 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Willing to self-identify an ethnic group, such as Caucasian, Asian, Afro-Caribbean
  • Have a firm clinical diagnosis of GCA or PMR, or (for patients identified prospectively) GCA or PMR should be more likely than any alternative explanation for the patient's symptoms
  • Able and willing to give informed consent. Patients will be 50 years of age or over, unless both biopsy-proven and a clinically classical case of GCA

Who cannot take part

  • Patient unwilling or unable to give fully informed consent

This trial has no sites in United States.

It has sites in one country. Choose a country to see its sites.

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

A multi-centre observational study recruiting prospective and retrospective cohorts of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (GCA). The primary aim is to find genetic determinants of GCA and PMR susceptibility, in order to yield novel insights into disease pathogenesis. A subset of the retrospective cohort is also enrolled in a post-marketing surveillance registry of patients eligible for, or receiving tocilizumab, to treat their relapsing or refractory GCA.

The 2 groups in the trial

  • Retrospective

    A patient who has a diagnosis of GCA or PMR

  • Prospective

    Patient with suspected GCA and PMR

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

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Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
UK GCA Consortium: Clinical and Immunogenetic Characterization of Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) and Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)
Plain-language title
Looking for genes linked to giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumaticaGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 15 November 2026.
Record updated
30 March 2025