Giant-cell arteritis associated with myelodysplastic syndrome: French multicenter case control study and literature review

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and MDS/myeloproliferative neoplasms (MDS/MPN) can be associated with giant cell arteritis (GCA). In this nationwide study by the “French Network of dysimmune disorders associated with hemopathies” (MINHEMON) the objective was to evaluate characteristics, treatment and outcome of GCA MDS-MDS/MPN. Retrospective analysis of patients that presented a MDS or MDS/MPN associated with GCA. Treatment efficiency, relapse-free and overall survival of GCA MDS-MDS/MPN were compared to GCA alone. Twenty-one patients with GCA MDS-MDS/MPN were included with median age 76 [42–92], M/F ratio 2.5, 8 MDS with multilineage dysplasia (38%), 4 chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (19%), at low or intermediate risk according to IPPS and IPSS-R. The prevalence of headaches, jaw claudication and anterior ischemic optic neuropathy was significantly lower in patients with GCA MDS-MDS/MPN compared to idiopathic GCA (14.3%, 0% and 0% versus 30%, 25%, and 25%, respectively; p