RECOMMENDATIONS

EULAR recommendations for the management of large vessel vasculitis

C Mukhtyar¹, L Guillevin², M C Cid³, B Dasgupta⁴, K de Groot⁵, W Gross⁶, T Hauser⁷, B Hellmich⁸, D Jayne⁹, C G M Kallenberg¹⁰, P A Merkel¹¹, H Raspe⁶, C Salvarani¹², D G I Scott¹³, C Stegeman¹⁰, R Watts¹⁴, K Westman¹⁵, J Witter¹⁶, H Yazici¹⁷, R Luqmani¹, for the European Vasculitis Study Group

¹ University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
² University of Paris Descartes, Paris, France
³ Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain
⁴ Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Westcliff-on-Sea, UK
⁵ Klinikum Offenbach, Offenbach, Germany
⁶ University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
⁷ University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
⁸ Kreiskrankenhaus Plochingen, Plochingen, Germany
⁹ Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK
¹⁰ University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
¹¹ Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
¹² Arcispedale S Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy
¹³ Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Trust, Norwich, UK
¹⁴ Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, Ipswich, UK
¹⁵ Malmo University Hospital, Malmo, Sweden
¹⁶ US Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Maryland, USA
¹⁷ University of Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey

R Luqmani, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, University of Oxford, Windmill Road, Oxford OX3 7LD, UK; raashid.luqmani{at}noc.anglox.nhs.uk

Objectives: To develop European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for the management of large vessel vasculitis.

Methods: An expert group (10 rheumatologists, 3 nephrologists, 2 immunolgists, 2 internists representing 8 European countries and the USA, a clinical epidemiologist and a representative from a drug regulatory agency) identified 10 topics for a systematic literature search through a modified Delphi technique. In accordance with standardised EULAR operating procedures, recommendations were derived for the management of large vessel vasculitis. In the absence of evidence, recommendations were formulated on the basis of a consensus opinion.

Results: Seven recommendations were made relating to the assessment, investigation and treatment of patients with large vessel vasculitis. The strength of recommendations was restricted by the low level of evidence and EULAR standardised operating procedures.

Conclusions: On the basis of evidence and expert consensus, management recommendations for large vessel vasculitis have been formulated and are commended for use in everyday clinical practice.

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