Genetic or environmental associations with Giant Cell Arteritis
Have genetic or environmental associations been described in Giant Cell Arteritis?
Yes. The majority (60%) of GCA patients express the HLA-DRB1∗04:04 allele. This genotype appears to confer increased susceptibility to the disease (but is not a predictor of disease severity). Other gene polymorphisms (e.g., HLA-DQA1∗03:01, -DQB1∗03:02) have been reported. Siblings of a patient with GCA are at an increased risk (10-fold) of developing the disease. Various environmental triggers have also been postulated over the years. Some (controversial) data have implicated varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in the pathogenesis of disease based on pathological evidence of VZV in affected arteries.