Effect of prior steroid treatment on temporal artery biopsy findings in giant cell arteritis.
rct · Level II
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 11973248.
- Also identified by PMC identifier 1771122.
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Abstract
To examine the effect of up to 6 weeks of corticosteroid treatment on the positive temporal artery biopsy rate in giant cell arteritis (GCA). Prospective comparative clinical study of 11 patients meeting the American College of Rheumatology criteria for diagnosis of GCA. Patients underwent temporal artery biopsy within 1 week, at 2-3 weeks, or after 4 weeks of corticosteroid treatment. Overall, nine of 11 (82%) patients had positive temporal artery biopsies. Six of seven (86%) biopsies performed after 4 or more weeks of steroid treatment were positive. Temporal artery biopsy is useful several weeks after institution of steroids.
Medical subject headings
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents
- Biopsy
- Giant Cell Arteritis
- Hydrocortisone
- Prednisolone