Step forward towards treat-to-target management of giant cell arteritis: patients stratification aiming to targeted remission – updated guidelines

Egyptian Rheumatology and Rehabilitation

Table 2 Treat to target of giant cell arteritis

		Early stage	Established stage
Targets	Clinical	Avoid visual loss or other vascular damage/tissue ischemia,	-maintain remission with the minimal effective dose of therapy, -maintain GCA disease related tissue and vascular integrity (whenever appropriate),
	Therapy	Rapid achievement of remission	-Drug-free remission may be targeted, -minimization of glucocorticoid use and relapse prevention, along with avoidance of damage accrual
	Disease Activity score_a	In remission	In remission
	PROMs:
	-Patient reported disease activity	In remission	In remission
	-Benefit-risk ratio of therapy	Optimum	Optimum
	-Functional disability	Improved	Improved
	-Quality of life	Improved	Improved
	-Comorbidities	Controlled	Controlled
	-Patient motivation	Improved	Improved

^aThere is no approved disease activity score published yet. Currently, there is a study to develop a GCA disease activity score that has been submitted for publication
GCA Giant cell arthritis