Low-dose aspirin decreases risk of complications for patients with GCA

Both the rate of visual loss and cerebrovascular accidents in patients with giant cell arteritis can be decreased with low-dose aspirin therapy, according to a study.

Gideon Nesher and colleagues at the Shaare-Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem retrospectively reviewed the charts of 175 patients in whom giant cell arteritis (GCA) was diagnosed. At the time of diagnosis, 36 patients (21%) had been receiving low-dose aspirin (100 mg/day). Ischemic heart disease was the diagnosis in all 36 patients. No significant differences existed between the aspirin-treated and non-aspirin-treated groups. At presentation, cranial ischemic complications were diagnosed in 43 patients; 30 had acute visual loss; 11 had cerebrovascular accidents and both conditions existed in two patients simultaneously.

Three of the aspirin-treated patients (8%) presented with cranial ischemic complications, compared with 40 (29%) of the non-aspirin-treated patients. Likewise, cranial ishcemic complications developed in only 3% of the aspirin-treated patients compared with 13% of the patients treated with steroid therapy.

The study is published in the April issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.