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Some histological features relate to clinical features in patients with GCA
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Jaw claudication and systemic markers of inflammation were associated with giant cells in recently published research, but no histological features were identified as associated with blindness in an analysis of 144 biopsy-positive patients with giant cell arteritis.
Researchers studied patient records from the South Australian Giant Cell Arteritis Registry, as well as pathology reports, clinical and epidemiological data and serological records in their analysis. Laboratory tests collected within one month of initiation of prednisolone were included. Women comprised 71% of the patients, the mean biopsy length was 17 mm, and 25% of the patients experienced blindness.
Younger age and fatigue were associated with luminal thrombus. Jaw claudication and higher levels of inflammatory markers were associated with giant cells, however, a lower frequency of jaw claudication and inflammatory markers were associated with the presence of intimal thickening. No other correlations were observed between histological parameters and clinical features of disease.
A trend toward an association with luminal thrombus and transmural inflammation with blindness was observed but the trend did not reach significance,” the researchers wrote. “Interestingly, in our cohort, patients with intimal thickening by histology are less likely to have giant cells, have less acute systemic inflammation, and have a lower risk of blindness. This group may reflect a different disease subgroup or end stages of active inflammation, highlighting the challenges in the pathological diagnosis and biopsy reporting of active GCA [giant cell arteritis].” – by Shirley Pulawski
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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