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GCA Aortic Aneurysm Surveillance — SCE Rheumatology MCQ

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HardVasculitisGCA Aortic Aneurysm SurveillanceSCE Rheumatology

A patient with relapsing giant cell arteritis needs a steroid-sparing agent and meets NICE criteria. What funded tocilizumab course is recommended?

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Correct answer: D — Tocilizumab plus a glucocorticoid taper for a maximum of one year

NICE recommends tocilizumab for relapsing or refractory GCA, used with a tapering glucocorticoid course, and limits funded treatment to one year. Longer-term relapse planning remains an individual specialist decision rather than automatic indefinite dosing.

Reference: NICE TA518: tocilizumab for treating giant cell arteritis (Published April 2018): https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta518/chapter/1-Recommendations; BSR guideline on diagnosis and treatment of giant cell arteritis (Published January 2020; revision in development): https://academic.oup.com/rheumatology/article/59/3/e1/5714024