Giant cell arteritis and usefulness of a predictive calculator.

INTRODUCTION

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is an inflammatory disease with serious visual sequelae, in which the diagnosis with the temporal artery biopsy (TAB) is very important.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

All cases of GCA were collected from 2010 to 2016 (60) in a retrospective study with temporal artery biopsy performed. The vision aspects of these patients were also analysed, along with the need / predictability of the biopsy.

RESULTS

The average incidence of GCA was 34.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants/year in those older than 50 years. The mean age was 79.9 with a predilection for females (1.9: 1). TAB was requested in 100% of cases, with 18.3% with positive results. The AAR criteria and / or TAB calculator could have avoided most (90%) of the biopsies.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present study, the mean incidence of GCA was 34.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants/year older than 50 years. The predictability calculator described by González-López is useful in this environment for decision making on the diagnosis of GCA and the indication of a TAB, in such a way that it can help to reduce the performing of biopsies only in doubtful cases.