SAT0256 THE ROLE OF FAST-TRACK ULTRASOUND IN PREVENTING EARLY COMPLICATIONS AND RELAPSES IN GIANT CELL ARTERITIS

Background: Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) is the most common form of primary systemic vasculitis, mainly affecting adults over 50 years old. Permanent visual loss (PVL) is one of the most feared complications, occurring in about 20% of cases, typically prior to initiation of high-dose glucocorticoid (GC) therapy. Color-duplex sonography (CDS) of temporal arteries (TAs) and large vessels (LVs) is recognized as a first-line diagnostic tool for...