Presenting features and outcomes in patients undergoing temporal artery biopsy. A review of 98 patients.
BACKGROUND
Although temporal arteritis is a well-recognized syndrome, controversy still exists regarding the optimal approach to diagnosis and treatment of this condition. We undertook this review to further define the spectrum of presenting features and outcomes of patients undergoing temporal artery biopsy.


METHODS
We reviewed the records of all patients undergoing temporal artery biopsy over a 5-year period. Presenting features were compared in biopsy-positive and biopsy-negative patients. In patients with positive biopsy specimens, treatment regimens, disease, treatment-related morbidity, and outcomes were recorded. Alternative diagnoses and therapy were reviewed in biopsy-negative patients.


RESULTS
Of 98 patients, 30 had positive and 68 had negative biopsy specimens. Biopsy-positive patients had an increased incidence of headache (93% vs 62%), jaw claudication (50% vs 18%), and prior polymyalgia rheumatica (23% vs 3%), but the sensitivity and specificity of these indicators were relatively low. Other clinical and laboratory parameters, including prior steroids and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, were similar between the two groups. In 30 patients with positive biopsy specimens, response to initial high-dose steroid was excellent. Serious manifestations after initial treatment were not seen, but mild flares were common after 1 year of therapy. Steroid-related morbidity was common, and steroids were seldom discontinued (0/22 patients at 1 year, 6/19 patients at 2 years, 5/11 patients at 3 years). In 68 patients with negative biopsy specimens, alternative diagnoses included neurologic diseases (15 patients), "pure" polymyalgia rheumatica (14 patients), and other inflammatory rheumatologic diseases (10 patients). Fourteen patients with negative biopsy specimens were treated for temporal arteritis, and were similar to biopsy-positive patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Temporal arteritis remains a challenging condition to diagnose and to treat. Presenting features are seldom helpful in predicting biopsy results. Initial treatment is effective but frequently toxic. Although late disease-related complications are rare, most patients continue to take long-term low-dose steroid therapy.
Chmelewski
W L
WL
Department of Medicine, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157.
McKnight
K M
KM
Agudelo
C A
CA
Wise
C M
CM
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000367:Age Factors; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012737:Sex Factors; D013699:Temporal Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones