Selective up‐regulation of the soluble pattern‐recognition receptor pentraxin 3 and of vascular endothelial growth factor in giant cell arteritis: Relevance for recent optic nerve ischemia

Our findings indicate that local expression of PTX3 is a feature of vascular inflammation in GCA; elevated circulating levels of PTX3 identify patients with very recent optic nerve ischemia or a recent diagnosis. Optic nerve ischemia is also associated with increased circulating VEGF levels.