Clinical and laboratory findings with giant cell arteritis.
Out of 66 patients who were diagnosed as suffering from polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR; n = 40), temporal arteritis (AT; n = 14) or both (n = 12) in a 6.5 year period (incidence 3.4/100,000 per year), 9 died and 49 were followed up for an average period of 28 months. Exacerbations of the illness (n = 24) and complications in the course (n = 32) were more frequent with an initial ESR greater than 90 mm/h. Postural vertigo (n = 11), amaurosis fugax (n = 11) and polyneuropathy (n = 8) were the most frequent neurological complications. Persisting unilateral blindness and aromatic anosmia developed in 2 patients each. Complications were significantly more frequent in patients with initial symptoms of AT (chi 2 P less than 0.001). CRP-levels correlated better with persisting symptoms in the course than did the ESR. Recurrences after treatment were significantly more frequent when the length of corticosteroid-therapy was less than 20 months (chi 2 P less than 0.009). On follow up there were normal values for neopterin, tumour necrosis factor and antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi.
Berlit
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Neurological Clinic Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011111:Polymyalgia Rheumatica / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones