TARGET GCAT Registry

Proposal for Establishment of a UK Post-marketing Surveillance Registry to Study the Effectiveness, Safety and Prescribing Habits of Tocilizumab for the Treatment of Giant Cell Arteritis in the UK National Health Service, Nested Within the Existing Structure of the UK GCA Consortium and UKIVAS Studies

A longitudinal post-marketing surveillance registry nested within the UK GCA Consortium that assesses the effectiveness and safety of tocilizumab in controlling refractory or relapsing forms of GCA in patients who require escalation of therapy to reach sustained remission. Half the patients recruited will have been prescribed tocilizumab (cases) and the other half will be prescribed alternative therapies (controls).

There are four study visits over 18 months: baseline, 6 months, 12 months and 18 months. At each visit data is collected on demographics; diagnosis and investigations; previous and concomitant medications; medical history; co-morbidities, vital signs; smoking and alcohol; disease activity and damage; routine laboratory tests; reason for starting escalation therapy. Safety data is collected on an ongoing basis.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient must have a diagnosis of GCA and be eligible for the UK GCA Consortium study
• Willing and able to consent
• Have refractory or relapsing GCA as defined by the NHS England commissioning statement for tocilizumab.
• Require treatment escalation