Ultrasound in GCA: Halo Sign Quantification and Visual Symptoms, Systemic Inflammation and Relapse Risk

A sonographic scoring system, termed Halo count and Halo score, of temporal and axillary arteries (TAXA) in suspected giant cell arteritis (GCA) has been proposed for outcome prognostication.

We conducted a retrospective review into the relationship of Halo count and Halo score and clinical-laboratory parameters amongst patients diagnosed with GCA via our rapid-access pathway to determine whether these measures should form part of our local routine clinical practice.

This review of TAXA ultrasound (US) images in patients with diagnosed GCA did not identify any correlation between Halo count/score and ocular symptoms, jaw claudication, 6-month relapse risk or inflammatory markers.

This suggests that further prospective evaluation of Halo count and -score is required before adopting these measures into routine US scanning of TAXA for suspected GCA.