Genetic or environmental associations with Giant Cell Arteritis

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.

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