Effect of prior steroid treatment on temporal artery biopsy findings in giant cell arteritis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of up to 6 weeks of corticosteroid treatment on the positive temporal artery biopsy rate in giant cell arteritis (GCA).


METHODS
Prospective comparative clinical study of 11 patients meeting the American College of Rheumatology criteria for diagnosis of GCA. Patients underwent temporal artery biopsy within 1 week, at 2-3 weeks, or after 4 weeks of corticosteroid treatment.


RESULTS
Overall, nine of 11 (82%) patients had positive temporal artery biopsies. Six of seven (86%) biopsies performed after 4 or more weeks of steroid treatment were positive.


CONCLUSIONS
Temporal artery biopsy is useful several weeks after institution of steroids.
Ray-Chaudhuri
N
N
Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Kiné
D Ah
DA
Tijani
S O
SO
Parums
D V
DV
Cartlidge
N
N
Strong
N P
NP
Dayan
M R
MR
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D011239:Prednisolone; D006854:Hydrocortisone