Large vessel vasculitis

Giant cell arteritis, Takayasu arteritis and chronic periaortitis are the most important large vessel vasculitides. These systemic inflammatory diseases involve the aorta and its primary branches. They are characterized by a highly variable clinical presentation and the lack of a specific biomarker. Therefore, modern multimodal imaging diagnostics are of utmost importance for the diagnosis and avoidance of organ complications. Glucocorticoids, initially with high daily doses, remain the cornerstone of medicinal treatment. Biological treatment options nowadays offer a perspective of long-term clinical remission at acceptably low glucocorticoid doses for many patients with large vessel vasculitis.