An observational study in Giant Cell Arteritis, sponsored by University of Pennsylvania. Recruiting at 4 sites in 3 countries. Open to participants aged 50 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-25.
Sponsored by University of Pennsylvania · Observational
The research study is being conducted to determine the utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in identifying inflammation of arteries supplying blood to the head, brain, and eyes. The target population includes patient with suspected giant cell arteritis (GCA; temporal arteritis).
After signing the consent form, participants will complete an MRI scan within 2 weeks of enrollment and fill out questionnaires related to their disease. Follow up visits and MRI scans may occur at 6-months after the initial MRI scan or at the time of relapse.
147 studies on the registry are indexed under Giant Cell Arteritis; 49 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 400 is above the median of 128 across 78 observational studies indexed under Giant Cell Arteritis.
Browse Giant Cell Arteritis studies →University of Pennsylvania is the lead sponsor of 1,668 studies on the registry; 235 are open to participants now.
Of its 158 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 109 (69%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Participants will be recruited from the ambulatory clinic, emergency department, or inpatient settings.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Implanted medical devices, pacemaker, and metallic foreign fragments inside body/orbits Known gadolinium allergy Women who are pregnant or nursing
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
A biopsy takes a small piece of tissue to examine. “Archival tissue” is a sample already taken, for example at diagnosis, and kept by the hospital.
Whether a stored sample will do depends on when it was taken, how much there is and what the study needs. Ask whether the study accepts your stored sample or needs a new biopsy.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Biopsy and archival tissue
A biopsy takes a small piece of tissue to examine. “Archival tissue” is a sample already taken, for example at diagnosis, and kept by the hospital.
Whether a stored sample will do depends on when it was taken, how much there is and what the study needs. Ask whether the study accepts your stored sample or needs a new biopsy.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
GCA with clinical diagnosis of ischemic optic neuropathy or other ocular condition
Diagnostic Test: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
GCA without ocular manifestations
Diagnostic Test: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Initially suspected to have GCA but final clinical diagnosis not GCA
Diagnostic Test: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Combined orbital and cranial vessel wall MRI
Vessel Wall Enhancement Score
Enhancement of cranial vessel wall, orbital structures, or other cranial structures. Scores range from 0 to 3; 0 being no inflammation and 3 being more enhancement or inflammation.
Time frame: Up to 12 months
Plan to share: No — This has not been approved by the ethics committee at some sites.
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
Contact study teamGet an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
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