title: Recent advances in the clinical management of giant cell arteritis and Takayasu arteritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article critically reviews the advances in medical management of giant cell arteritis (GCA) and Takayasu arteritis (TAK) with a focus on recent developments in targeted biologic therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The role of biologics in the treatment of large vessel vasculitis (LVV) is expanding. TNFα inhibitors appear to be effective in the treatment of TAK but have little benefit in GCA. Preliminary clinical trial data suggest that abatacept and tocilizumab reduce the risk of relapse in GCA. Increasing observational evidence supports the use of interleukin-6 inhibitors in TAK. Based on a small open-label study, ustekinumab appears safe and potentially effective for refractory GCA. A possible role of B cell dysregulation may contribute to pathogenic mechanisms in LVV, but support for the use of B cell depleting therapy is limited.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interleukin-6 inhibitors appear efficacious in the treatment of refractory cases of LVV; however, utility in newly diagnosed immunosuppressive-naïve patients is less well established. Abatacept and ustekinumab are promising targets for therapy in LVV but further investigation is needed before routine use is considered.
authors.affiliation: aDivision of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine bDivision of Epidemiology, Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Koster
authors.forename: Eric L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Matteson
authors.forename: Kenneth J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Warrington
mesh_terms: D001685:Biological Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019468:Disease Management; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D001685:Biological Factors