Long-Term Outcome and Prognosis of Noninfectious Thoracic Aortitis.

BACKGROUND: Aortitis is a group of disorders characterized by the inflammation of the aorta. The large-vessel vasculitides are the most common causes of aortitis. Aortitis long-term outcomes are not well known. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term outcome and prognosis of noninfectious surgical thoracic aortitis. METHODS: This was a retrospective multicenter study of 5,666 patients with thoracic aorta surgery including 217 (3.8%) with noninfectious thoracic aortitis (118 clinically isolated aortitis, 57 giant cells arteritis, 21 Takayasu arteritis, and 21 with various systemic autoimmune disorders). Factors associated with vascular complications and a second vascular procedure were assessed by multivariable analysis. RESULTS: Indications for aortic surgery were asymptomatic aneurysm with a critical size (n = 152 [70%]), aortic dissection (n = 28 [13%]), and symptomatic aortic aneurysm (n = 30 [14%]). The 10-year cumulative incidence of vascular complication and second vascular procedure was 82.1% (95% CI: 67.6%-90.6%), and 42.6% (95% CI: 28.4%-56.1%), respectively. Aortic arch aortitis (HR: 2.08; 95% CI: 1.26-3.44; P = 0.005) was independently associated with vascular complications. Descending thoracic aortitis (HR: 2.35; 95% CI: 1.11-4.96; P = 0.031) and aortic dissection (HR: 3.08; 95% CI: 1.61-5.90; P = 0.002) were independently associated with a second vascular procedure, while treatment with statins after aortitis diagnosis (HR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.24-0.90; P = 0.028) decreased it. After a median follow-up of 3.9 years, 19 (16.1%) clinically isolated aortitis patients developed features of a systemic inflammatory disease and 35 (16%) patients had died. CONCLUSIONS: This multicenter study shows that 82% of noninfectious surgical thoracic aortitis patients will experience a vascular complication within 10 years. We pointed out specific characteristics that identified those at highest risk for subsequent vascular complications and second vascular procedures.

Efficacy and management of tocilizumab in polymyalgia rheumatica: results of a multicenter retrospective observational study.

OBJECTIVES: The efficacy of anti-IL6 receptors such as Tocilizumab (TCZ) was demonstrated in patients with Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) in two recent randomized controlled trials. The objective of this multicentre retrospective study was to assess the efficacy of TCZ in PMR patients requiring GC-sparing treatment, as well as different strategies for TCZ withdrawal. METHODS: We conducted a multicentre study in French tertiary health care departments for patients with PMR. PMR patients receiving off-label TCZ between 2015 and 2022 were included. The primary end point was the proportion of patients tapering to glucocorticoids (GCs) ≤5mg/day 6 months after the first TCZ infusion. The secondary endpoints were the proportion in whom GC was discontinued during follow-up, and the proportion of patients in whom TCZ was discontinued. RESULTS: Fifty-three PMR patients were included. Thirty-one (31) patients suffered from active PMR despite csDMARDs. GCs were ≤5mg/day in 77% of the patients (95% confidence interval [CI95%]: 36-89) at 6 months, and in 97% of the patients at 12 months. Six and 12 months after the first TCZ infusion, the proportions of GC-free patients were 22.5% (CI95%: 12.7-37.8) and 58.3% (CI95%: 43.2-74.1), respectively. Among TCZ withdrawal strategies, TCZ infusion spacing and TCZ dose reduction were more successful (success in 87% and 79% of attempts, respectively) than TCZ discontinuation (success in 52% of attempts; p= 0.012 and p= 0.039, respectively). CONCLUSION: In GC-dependent PMR patients, treatment with TCZ led to a drastic decrease in GC dose and remission of PMR. TCZ dose reduction or TCZ infusion spacing are good options to consider in TCZ withdrawal.

Relationship between histopathological features of non-infectious aortitis and the results of pre-operative 18F-FDG-PET/CT: a retrospective study of 16 patients.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the characteristics of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography/computed-tomography (18FDG-PET/CT) findings before surgery in patients with active, histologically confirmed aortitis, and to correlate the degree of arterial wall inflammation with PETVAS score. METHODS: This was a multiple-centre retrospective study including cases with histologically proven active, non-infectious aortitis who had a 18FDG-PET/CT performed within one year before surgery for aneurysm repair. PETVAS score was determined by radiologists blinded to the pathology findings. Cardiovascular pathologists reviewed aortic tissue samples and graded the degree of inflammation in the vessel wall. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were included (8 giant cell arteritis, 4 clinically isolated aortitis, 2 Takayasu's arteritis, 1 relapsing polychondritis, and 1 rheumatoid arthritis). In 5/16 (31%) patients, 18FDG-PET/CT did not detect the presence of aortic inflammation; two of whom were being treated with glucocorticoids at the time of procedure. Ascending thoracic and abdominal aorta had the highest FDG uptake among the affected territories. Patients without active aortitis on 18FDG-PET/CT were significantly older (p=0.027), had a lower PETVAS score (p=0.007), and had a lower degree of adventitial inflammation (p=0.035). In contrast, there was no difference between 18FDG-PET/CT active and inactive aortitis patients as regards the timing between PET/CT and surgery, serum CRP level (during 18FDG-PET/CT) and, FDG uptake per study site. CONCLUSIONS: In histologically proved aortitis, 18FDG-PET/CT before surgery did not detect vascular inflammation in 31% patients, and PETVAS score correlated with the degree of adventitial histopathologic inflammation.