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An Immunohistopathologic Study to Profile the Folate Receptor Beta Macrophage and Vascular Immune Microenvironment in Giant Cell Arteritis
06:35

An Immunohistopathologic Study to Profile the Folate Receptor Beta Macrophage and Vascular Immune Microenvironment in Giant Cell Arteritis

Published on: February 8, 2019

Giant-cell arteritis

Jennifer K Hall1

  • 1Neuroophthalmology Service, Wills Eye Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA. jkhall30@hotmail.com

Current Opinion in Ophthalmology
|October 16, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Giant-cell arteritis diagnosis is improving with new imaging and blood tests. Treatment strategies using intravenous steroids, methotrexate, or aspirin may reduce complications from the disease and its treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Internal Medicine
  • Vascular Inflammation

Background:

  • Giant-cell arteritis (GCA) presents diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
  • Accurate diagnosis and effective management are crucial to prevent severe complications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize recent advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of GCA.
  • To highlight emerging serologic markers and imaging techniques for GCA diagnosis.
  • To review updated therapeutic strategies for GCA management.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent investigations and literature on GCA diagnosis and treatment.
  • Analysis of serologic markers including erythrocyte-sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, platelet count, interleukin-6, and fibrinogen.
  • Evaluation of advanced imaging modalities such as high-resolution MRI/angiography, FDG-PET, and Doppler ultrasonography.
  • Assessment of treatment modifications including intravenous steroids, methotrexate, and aspirin.

Main Results:

  • Enhanced diagnostic accuracy through novel serologic markers and advanced imaging techniques.
  • Interleukin-6 and fibrinogen offer supplementary diagnostic information beyond standard markers.
  • High-resolution MRI/angiography, FDG-PET, and Doppler ultrasonography provide valuable diagnostic findings.
  • Intravenous steroids may offer a steroid-sparing benefit.
  • Adjunctive methotrexate and aspirin show potential in reducing GCA-related morbidity and treatment side effects.

Conclusions:

  • An expanded array of imaging and serologic tools aids in diagnosing challenging GCA cases.
  • Treatment modifications, including initial intravenous steroids and adjunctive methotrexate or aspirin, can mitigate disease and treatment-related morbidity.
Abstract

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