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An Immunohistopathologic Study to Profile the Folate Receptor Beta Macrophage and Vascular Immune Microenvironment in Giant Cell Arteritis
Published on: February 8, 2019
Cardiovascular lesions in giant cell arteritis
Marta Dzhus1,2, Halyna Mostbauer1
1O. Bohomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, Ukraine.
Insights
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) patients face higher risks of serious cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke. Early diagnosis and monitoring are crucial, especially within the first year after GCA diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Cardiology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a large-vessel systemic vasculitis.
- Cardiovascular complications in GCA significantly increase morbidity and mortality.
- Understanding these complications is vital for patient prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the epidemiology, clinical presentation, etiopathology, and cardiovascular risks associated with GCA.
- To synthesize current knowledge on cardiovascular complications in patients diagnosed with GCA.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature review was conducted from 2002 to 2021.
- Searches were performed in PubMed and Medline using keywords related to GCA and cardiovascular diseases.
- English-language articles were included in the analysis.
Main Results:
- Patients with GCA exhibit an elevated risk of aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular events, and peripheral artery disease.
- Cardiovascular complications are associated with a worse prognosis in GCA.
- The highest risk for cardiovascular complications occurs within the first year post-GCA diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- GCA patients have an increased susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases, though research findings can be conflicting.
- There is a need for improved understanding and treatment strategies for cardiovascular complications in GCA.
- Vigilant monitoring for potentially fatal cardiovascular outcomes is mandatory for GCA patients.
Introduction:
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a systemic vasculitis that affects large vessels. Cardiovascular complications that develop with GCA have high morbidity and can be fatal. The aim of this work was to discuss epidemiology, clinical picture, etiopathology and risk of development of cardiovascular complications in GCA.
Material And Methods:
A literature review was performed for 2002 to 2021 using PubMed and Medline scientific search databases. The following keywords were used to search academic journal databases: "giant cell arteritis", "heart attack", "cardiovascular system", "aortic aneurysm", "coronary heart disease", "aortic dissection", "myocardium" and "stroke". Articles written in languages, other than English, were excluded.
Results:
The analysis of studies showed an increased risk of an aneurysm, aortic dissection, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular events, and peripheral artery disease in patients with GCA. This was not surprising as it has been shown that, cardiovascular complications worsens the prognosis in GCA. According to the results of observations and cited studies the most significant risk of cardiovascular complications was observed in the first year following the diagnosis of GCA.
Conclusions:
Patients with GCA have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, but research data/findings are somewhat conflicting, and there is limited information/knowledge on how to treat the patients. Awareness of the risk of cardiovascular disease in GCA is essential, and monitoring these potentially fatal consequences is mandatory in patients with GCA. It is critical to be aware of the danger of cardiovascular illness in GCA patients and to keep track of these potentially deadly outcomes.
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