Effect of prior steroid treatment on temporal artery biopsy findings in giant cell arteritis
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Published on: February 8, 2019
N Ray-Chaudhuri1, D Ah Kiné, S O Tijani
1Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Aim:
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.
Conclusion:
Temporal artery biopsy is useful several weeks after institution of steroids.
