Early access
Sign in
Not yet recruitingNo phase

Scanning immune B cells in blood vessels of people with giant cell arteritis

Uses a scan with labelled rituximab to see B cells in giant cell arteritis.

Key facts

Who runs it
University of Edinburgh
Where
United Kingdom1 site in 1 countryChoose a country to see its sites
Trial code
Registry title
Mapping B-cell Biology Across the Cardiovascular Territories of Giant Cell Arteritis: Towards a New Therapeutic Approach (RituxiMAP GCA)
Status
Not yet recruiting
People taking part
30 people, planned
Started
Oct 2026
Expected to end
Jun 2029
Type of study
Observational, 3 groups
Treatments tested
  • Zirconium Zr 89 labelled rituximab
Record updated
16 June 2026

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 adults with newly diagnosed, active giant cell arteritis of the large blood vessels. It also takes two comparison groups: people with an immune disorder driven by B cells, and people with a bulging main artery (aortic aneurysm) caused by fatty build-up.

Age
GCA group and aneurysm group: 50 years or older. B-cell immune disorder group: 18 years or older.
Sex
All sexes can join.
Disease stage
GCA group: meets the 2022 American College of Rheumatology/EULAR criteria for giant cell arteritis, with scans showing active large-vessel GCA in the previous 4 weeks. B-cell group: active disease according to the referring team. Aneurysm group: scans showing an atherosclerotic aortic aneurysm.
Earlier treatment
GCA group: will be treated with steroids (corticosteroids) alone by the care team. People who took corticosteroids for more than 4 weeks right before the study start cannot join.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • A previous diagnosis of GCA
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Severe kidney problems (eGFR <15ml/min/1.73m2)
  • Another major illness that the study doctor thinks rules out taking part
  • Unable to give consent, or unable or unwilling to follow radiation safety advice

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 14 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • For GCA group:; Adults ≥ 50 years at the time of enrolment; Meets 2022 American College of Rheumatology/EULAR classification criteria for giant cell arteritis; Imaging evidence of active LV-GCA in the previous 4 weeks; Will be managed with corticosteroid monotherapy by the standard care team; For BCMID group:
  • Adults ≥ 18 years at the time of enrolment
  • Meets criteria for a diagnosis of a B-cell mediated immune disorder
  • Considered to have active disease by referring team
  • Will be managed as per standard of care by referring team; For AA group:
  • Adults ≥ 50 years at the time of enrolment
  • Imaging evidence of atherosclerotic aortic aneurysm

Who cannot take part

  • Participants receiving corticosteroids for >4 weeks immediately prior to baseline
  • Previous diagnosis of GCA
  • Inability or unwillingness to comply with the radiation protection advice
  • History of any major morbidity which the clinical investigator considers contraindicated to study entry
  • Advanced renal dysfunction (eGFR <15ml/min/1.73m2)
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Patients without mental capacity or willingness to provide 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

B cells are a component of the immune system which appear be important in causing all forms of cardiovascular disease. Until now, it has not been possible to directly study these cells in living patients (essential to assess their potential as the target of new treatments). For the first time in any cardiovascular disease, this study will apply cutting edge scanning technology to visualise B cells in the blood vessels of giant cell arteritis (GCA) patients. GCA is a common and potentially deadly disorder of the blood vessels which is caused by abnormalities of the immune system. Current treatments are mainly limited to steroids. Unfortunately, these drugs bring tremendous side effects and so there is an urgent requirement to discover alternatives.

Read full original descriptionShow less

Laboratory investigations tell us that B cells are highly present in GCA and so if the proposed scanning technology fails to identify these cells in the blood vessels of participants, then the technology is unlikely to be useful for other cardiovascular diseases. If, however, the study does successfully visualise B cells, this knowledge could pave the way for clinical trials of B cell targeted treatments (already established in other conditions) as steroid alternatives in GCA.

This study aims to map the distribution of the radiotracer zirconium-89 labelled rituximab within the blood vessels of patients with newly diagnosed GCA and compare this with two separate control groups without the condition. This will allow us to determine the role of B cells within this condition, and whether patients would benefit from B cell-depleting treatments such as rituximab.

The 3 groups in the trial

  • LV-GCA group

    Patients with a diagnosis of active, large vessel GCA

    Treatment: Zirconium Zr 89 labelled rituximab

  • AA control group

    Patients with a diagnosis of atherosclerotic aortic aneurysm

    Treatment: Zirconium Zr 89 labelled rituximab

  • BCMID control group

    Patients with a diagnosis of a B-cell mediated inflammatory disorder

    Treatment: Zirconium Zr 89 labelled rituximab

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

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
Mapping B-cell Biology Across the Cardiovascular Territories of Giant Cell Arteritis: Towards a New Therapeutic Approach (RituxiMAP GCA)
Plain-language title
Scanning immune B cells in blood vessels of people with giant cell arteritisGenerated 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
16 June 2026