title: Giant cell arteritis incidence: analysis by season and year in mid-Atlantic United States.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evaluate the incidence of biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis for seasonal or annual variability in the Mid-Atlantic United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review of all patients undergoing temporal artery biopsy from 1994 to 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  The charts of 744 patients were reviewed, and 215 patients were diagnosed with giant cell arteritis based on positive temporal artery biopsy results.
  
  
  METHODS
  All results between 1994 and 2011 were reviewed. Giant cell arteritis incidence data were evaluated by year, season and month for any trends or cyclic patterns.
  
  
  METHODS
  Incidence of biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of patients were female (74%) and over the age of 60 (98.6%). The diagnosis of biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis was found in 215 of 744 (28.9%) patients. The incidence of biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis by year varied, with the peak incidence in 1996. The monthly incidence peaked in July and had a trough in October. However, Poisson regression analysis did not show any statistically significant trend over time or cyclic pattern to the incidence by year, season or month.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis in the population studied did not have any significant cyclic pattern over the last 17 years. The highest incidence by month was noted in July with a trough in October. However, this was not a significant pattern by month or season to support infectious or periodic environmental factors inciting giant cell arteritis.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors: Krystian
authors: K
authors: Kisza
authors: Ann P
authors: AP
authors: Murchison
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Dai
authors: Jurij R
authors: JR
authors: Bilyk
authors: Ralph C
authors: RC
authors: Eagle
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Sergott
authors: Peter J
authors: PJ
authors: Savino
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008873:Mid-Atlantic Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013699:Temporal Arteries / Q000473:pathology
keywords: autoimmune disease; epidemiology; giant cell arteritis