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Published on: February 8, 2019
Plasma viscosity in giant cell arteritis
Carsten Finke1, Jan Schroeter, Ulrich Kalus
1Department of Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. carsten.finke @ charite.de
Insights
Plasma viscosity (PV) may aid in diagnosing giant cell arteritis (GCA). Elevated PV levels were observed in GCA patients, offering a potential diagnostic marker for early detection, especially when diagnostic criteria are not met.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Clinical Immunology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Current diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA) relies on American College of Rheumatology criteria.
- Not all GCA patients meet these criteria, potentially delaying diagnosis and increasing complication risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate acute phase response markers in GCA patients.
- To identify more specific markers for GCA diagnosis, particularly in cases not meeting current criteria.
Main Methods:
- An observational study comparing GCA and non-GCA patients.
- Patients were matched for erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.
- Analysis focused on plasma viscosity (PV) as an acute phase response marker.
Main Results:
- Plasma viscosity (PV) was significantly elevated in all GCA patients.
- PV levels were normal in non-GCA patients.
- PV demonstrated a significant difference between GCA and non-GCA cohorts.
Conclusions:
- Plasma viscosity (PV) may represent a more specific indicator of acute inflammation in GCA.
- PV analysis could enhance the reliability of early GCA diagnosis.
- PV may be particularly valuable for diagnosing suspected GCA cases that do not meet existing criteria.
Background:
Diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA) is based on criteria of the American College of Rheumatology. However, not all GCA patients meet these criteria and treatment may be delayed in individual patients, leading to an increased risk of complications.
Methods:
In an observational study, we investigated acute phase response markers in GCA and non-GCA patients matched for erythrocyte sedimentation rate and CRP levels.
Results:
Plasma viscosity (PV) was significantly elevated in all GCA patients, but normal in non-GCA patients.
Conclusions:
Our data suggest that PV may reflect a more specific component of the acute inflammatory response in patients with GCA. Analysis of PV may significantly contribute to a reliable diagnosis early in the course of the disease, particularly in patients with suspected GCA that do not meet current diagnostic criteria.
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