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

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Tuberculosis Infection in Chinese Patients with Giant Cell Arteritis

Yun Zhang1, Dongmei Wang2, Yue Yin1

  • 1Department of General Internal Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing, 100730, China.

Scientific Reports
|October 9, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a large-vessel vasculitis. This study found a higher prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) history in GCA patients, suggesting a potential link between GCA and TB.

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a medium- and large-vessel vasculitis typically affecting individuals over 50.
  • Tuberculosis (TB) has been suggested as a potential factor in Takayasu arteritis (TA), another large-vessel vasculitis.
  • The association between GCA and TB is infrequently reported, necessitating further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between Giant cell arteritis (GCA) and Tuberculosis (TB).
  • To analyze clinical data of GCA patients and identify potential links with TB.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of clinical data from 91 GCA patients at Peking Union Medical College Hospital.
  • Comparison of clinical features between GCA patients with and without a history of TB.

Main Results:

  • A significant proportion of GCA patients (22.0%) had a history of active TB and received anti-TB therapy.
  • GCA patients with TB history exhibited more weight loss (P=0.011), less dyslipidemia (P=0.042), higher anti-phospholipid antibodies (P=0.010), and lower white blood cell counts (P=0.006).

Conclusions:

  • The prevalence of TB history among GCA patients in this cohort exceeds that in the general Chinese population.
  • Clinicians should consider the possibility of comorbid TB in GCA patients presenting with significant weight loss and low white blood cell counts.

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