title: EULAR recommendations for the management of large vessel vasculitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for the management of large vessel vasculitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  An expert group (10 rheumatologists, 3 nephrologists, 2 immunolgists, 2 internists representing 8 European countries and the USA, a clinical epidemiologist and a representative from a drug regulatory agency) identified 10 topics for a systematic literature search through a modified Delphi technique. In accordance with standardised EULAR operating procedures, recommendations were derived for the management of large vessel vasculitis. In the absence of evidence, recommendations were formulated on the basis of a consensus opinion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven recommendations were made relating to the assessment, investigation and treatment of patients with large vessel vasculitis. The strength of recommendations was restricted by the low level of evidence and EULAR standardised operating procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On the basis of evidence and expert consensus, management recommendations for large vessel vasculitis have been formulated and are commended for use in everyday clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mukhtyar
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guillevin
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cid
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dasgupta
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hellmich
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jayne
authors.forename: C G M
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Kallenberg
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Merkel
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Raspe
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salvarani
authors.forename: D G I
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stegeman
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Westman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Witter
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yazici
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luqmani
mesh_terms: D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D001241:Aspirin