Purpose: The relevance of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) during giant cell arteritis is not established. The purpose of our study was to estimate the ANCA frequency and their impact on disease course of giant cell arteritis.
Methods: Thirty patients were followed-up for giant cell arteritis and had a detection of ANCA.
Results: Nine patient had positive ANCA (30%). These patients had no significant differences regarding clinical and biological data or number of relapses in comparison with patients having negative ANCA testing. However, the relapse occurred earlier in the presence of ANCA (six months versus 31.5 months).
Conclusion: In giant cell arteritis, detection of ANCA seems predictive of a premature relapse and should be associated with an acute monitoring of ANCA positive patients.