There is a paucity of literature to guide the management of GCA-related pericarditis, which is likely to be interleukin-6-driven and may not respond to treatment strategies typically used for autoimmune-related pericarditis that occurs as a result of rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus, due to differing underlying pathologic processes. This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and rheumatoid arthritis.