Five-year prospective multi-center cohort study of patients with giant cell arteritis in Greece.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common systemic vasculitis in the aged population associated with significant morbidity due to the long term administration of corticosteroids and the presence of various comorbidities. Data regarding its current treatment modalities, comorbidities, morbidity and mortality in Greece are limited. In this multi-center, prospective study that begun at the end of 2015 patients with newly diagnosed GCA according to the modified 1990 ACR criteria, as well as individuals with established or relapsing disease have been included. During the 1 phase of the study that is still ongoing, data are being collected concerning demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, treatment at the onset of the disease and at relapses, relapses, adverse events of therapy, comorbidities, hospitalizations and deaths. During the 2 and 3 phase of the study patients will be reevaluated 2 and 5 years after their 1st evaluation. The study is expected to provide valuable data regarding the current clinical characteristics, comorbidities, therapeutic regimens used, relapse rate, morbidity and mortality of patients with GCA.