title: Analysis of factors that determine the diagnostic yield of temporal artery biopsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the diagnostic yield of temporal artery biopsy in the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis, and to correlate these results with the clinical and laboratory features which indicate it, in an attempt to increase the efficiency of this technique and try to "save biopsies".
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study including suspected giant cell arteritis cases in which a temporal artery biopsy was performed. The data recorded included demographic, clinical and laboratory information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 38 patients were analysed. The biopsy was positive in 68.42% of cases. Multivariate analysis revealed visual symptoms and a high C-reactive protein as parameters with a high diagnostic efficiency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study supports the fact that temporal artery biopsy should be undertaken when there is strong clinical suspicion. Visual symptoms and high C-reactive protein are considered as a high efficiency indicators to biopsy.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Universitario La Fe, Valencia, Spain. ana.suelves@gmail.com
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Suelves
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: España-Gregori
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aviñó
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rohrweck
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Díaz-Llopis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013699:Temporal Arteries / Q000473:pathology*