Clinical trial Recruiting at 2 sites Observational Ages 18 and up

Ultrasound lesions in temporal and axillary arteries and relapse risk in giant cell arteritis.

Official title: Association of Ultrasonographic Temporal Artery Lesions and Relapse in Patients With Giant Cell Arteritis

Run by University Hospital, Brest · NCT06894602 · Data updated 2026-11-12

We will test whether lesions seen on ultrasound of the temporal and axillary arteries can predict relapse in people with giant cell arteritis.

More Giant Cell Arteritis trials

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment100 (estimated)
SponsorUniversity Hospital, Brest
Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Brest and 1 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedAugust 5, 2025
Main results expectedAugust 1, 2028
Study endsAugust 1, 2028
Registry record updatedMarch 20, 2026
Trial IDNCT06894602 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Adults who meet the 2022 ACR criteria for giant cell arteritis, can give informed consent, and receive care at the participating centers in Brest or Quimper are ideal candidates.

Probably not a fit

Patients who cannot consent (for example, those under guardianship), are not affiliated to the French Social Security system, or cannot access the participating centers are unlikely to benefit from participation.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This is a prospective, bicentric longitudinal observational study enrolling 100 patients with giant cell arteritis at two French university hospitals. Participants will have three routine visits that include clinical assessment, blood tests, and ultrasound of the temporal and axillary arteries using the OGUS scoring system. Ultrasound examinations will be performed as part of standard care and will not be blinded to clinicians, and the study will analyze whether ultrasound lesion patterns or OGUS scores are associated with clinico-biological relapse. No interventional procedures or additional costs are required and follow-up imaging is integrated into routine care.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, routine ultrasound findings and OGUS scores could help doctors predict relapses earlier and tailor monitoring or treatment for people with GCA.

How similar studies have gone: Ultrasound is an established diagnostic and monitoring tool in GCA and the OGUS score exists, but longitudinal evidence directly linking specific ultrasound lesions to relapse is limited and not yet definitive.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Major patient
* Patients meeting ACR 2022 criteria for giant cell arteritis.
* No opposition expressed

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients unable to understand the protocol, under guardianship or curatorship.
* Patients not affiliated to the French Social Security system.

Where it's running

  • Chu Brest
    Brest, France
    Recruiting
  • Ch Quimper
    Quimper, France
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

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  • Precision care for giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica

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  • Understanding how Giant Cell Arteritis affects vision

    This study is trying to understand how Giant Cell Arteritis affects vision in adults by comparing eye health in those with GCA-related vision problems to those with other causes of vision loss.

    Recruiting ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco · Milan, Lombardy · NCT06500728

  • Understanding biomarkers in giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica

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  • Investigating a new imaging tracer for diagnosing giant cell arteritis

    This study is testing a new imaging method called AzaFol-PET/CT to see if it can better diagnose giant cell arteritis in people aged 50 and older compared to the current standard method.

    Recruiting Phase 2 Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern · Bern · NCT06335888

  • Exploring how the gut microbiome affects giant cell arteritis

    This study looks at how the bacteria in the gut might affect people with giant cell arteritis to see if they can find clues for better treatments.

    Recruiting at 2 sites University of Bonn · Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia and 1 other locations · NCT06279065

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.