Taking peopleNo phase

The VGR GCA Cohort: Ultrasound, Biopsy and Biomarkers - Novel Methods for Diagnosis, Monitoring and Prognosis in Giant Cell Arteritis.

Key facts

Who runs it: Vastra Gotaland Region
Where: Sweden1 site in 1 countryChoose a country to see its sites
Trial code: NCT07246577
Status: Recruiting
People taking part: 340 people, planned
Started: 1 Mar 2026
Expected to end: 1 Dec 2029
Type of study: Observational, 2 groups
Record updated: 15 April 2026

Who can take part

Age: 18 years and older
Sex: Women and men
Healthy volunteers: Can take part

The registry criteria, word for word

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Who can take part

Individuals referred for evaluation due to suspected giant cell arteritis (GCA)
Ability to provide written informed consent

Who cannot take part

Previous diagnosis of GCA
Previous temporal artery biopsy performed as part of prior GCA evaluation
Treatment with high-dose corticosteroids (>7.5 mg/day) for more than two weeks before initiation of the diagnostic work-up
Inability to provide informed consent
Inability to comply with the study protocol

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

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common vasculitis in the elderly and is usually treated with long-term corticosteroid therapy. Many patients experience relapses and treatment-related side effects. Current diagnostic and monitoring methods provide limited prognostic information and cannot reliably distinguish active from inactive disease during relapse. This project addresses the clinical need for improved tools to identify patients at high risk of relapse and to develop more effective methods for disease monitoring.

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The aim is to develop new tools that enable more personalized treatment of GCA. By combining vascular ultrasound with novel blood biomarkers, we seek to predict disease course and relapse risk. The specific objectives are:

* To identify ultrasound and blood biomarkers that can predict long-term disease control. * To determine which ultrasound parameters and blood biomarkers can distinguish active from inactive disease during treatment. * To evaluate whether extended vascular ultrasound protocols can improve diagnostic accuracy.

The ultimate goal is to establish safe, practical tools for improved diagnosis and follow-up in patients with GCA.