AB0465 ANALYSIS OF VASCULITIS PATTERNS IN PATIENTS WITH GIANT CELL ARTERITIS COMPARED TO PATIENTS WITH GIANT CELL ARTERITIS AND POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA

Background:Giant cell arteritis (GCA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) often coexist.1The role of modern ultrasound in diagnosis of GCA as well as PMR is well known.2To date it is unknown, whether patients with GCA and PMR have a different vasculitis pattern in ultrasound (US) examination than patients with GCA only.Objectives:To prospectively identify differences in vasculitis patterns in consecutive patients with newly diagnosed GCA and PMR compared to newly diagnosed GCA patients without PMR.Methods:US examination of the arteries typically affected in GCA, such as axillary arteries, vertebral arteries, superficial temporal arteries with both frontal and parietal branches and facial arteries was performed in patients with GCA and PMR (GCA-PMR-group) as well as in patients with GCA only (GCA-group) at time of first diagnosis. Arteries were defined as pathological, if measured intima-media-thickness by US was above respective cut-off values.3Results:The GCA-PMR-group consisted of 27 patients, the GCA-group of 18 patients. In the GCA-PMR-group, a total of 206 arteries were affected, while in the GCA-group 131 arteries were affected. Mean age and gender distribution was 74 years (SD± 9) with 10 (37%) females in the GCA-PMR-group and 76 years (SD± 9) with 10 (55%) females in the GCA-group. Median values of C-reactive protein (CRP) were 57.2 (IQR 31.7-75.7) in the GCA-group and 48.3 (IQR 17.5- 79.9) in the GCA-PMR-group, no significance was observed (p= 0.3577). Mean number of affected arteries per patient was 7.63 and 7.28 in the GCA-PMR-group and GCA-group, respectively. Altogether, no significant difference in vascular pattern between the two groups was observed. Exact numbers, distribution and IMT-values for all measured arteries are depicted in table 1.Conclusion:In our cohort, we did not observe a significant difference in vascular patterns between patients with GCA and PMR and GCA only patients.References:[1]Salvarani C, Cantini F, Hunder GG. Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant-cell arteritis. The Lancet 2008;372:234–45.[2]Dejaco C, Ramiro S, Duftner C, et al. EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging in large vessel vasculitis in clinical practice. Ann Rheum Dis 2018;77:636–43.[3]Schäfer VS, Juche A, Ramiro S, Krause A, Schmidt WA. Ultrasound cut-off values for intima-media thickness of temporal, facial and axillary arteries in giant cell arteritis. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2017;56:1479–83.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

Download Full-text

Should Ultrasonographic Giant-Cell Arteritis Signs be Detected in Patients with Polymyalgia Rheumatica?

Medical Laboratory Technology Journal ◽

10.31964/mltj.v0i0.344 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Fazıl Kulaklı ◽

İlker Fatih Sari ◽

Erdem Çaylı ◽

Nurçe Çilesizoğlu Yavuz

Keyword(s):

Giant Cell Arteritis ◽

Giant Cell ◽

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate ◽

Sedimentation Rate ◽

Polymyalgia Rheumatica ◽

Control Group ◽

Newly Diagnosed ◽

Erythrocyte Sedimentation ◽

Experienced Radiologist ◽

Significant Difference

Assessing the presence of ultrasonographic findings of Giant-Cell Arteritis in Polymyalgia Rheumatica patients using Ultrasonography on the temporal artery. The study contributes to the literature evaluating the unclear relationship between Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant-Cell Arteritis. It raises awareness that Ultrasonography can be used instead of biopsy in patients with suspected Giant-Cell Arteritis. Twenty patients were newly diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica, and 20 participants as a control group were included in the study. While the Polymyalgia Rheumatica group was evaluated at baseline and sixth month, the control group was evaluated only at baseline. Laboratory, clinical and ultrasonographic findings of all participants were assessed. Gray-scale Ultrasonography and colored Doppler Ultrasonography were used to present halo and compression, occlusion, and stenosis in addition to intima-media complex thickness in bilateral temporal arteries and frontal-parietal branches by an experienced radiologist blinded to the subject. No significant difference was found between Polymyalgia Rheumatica and control groups based on demographic features, clinical and ultrasonographic results at baseline and sixth month. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate of Polymyalgia Rheumatica at baseline was statistically higher than the control group. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate values have declined significantly in Polymyalgia Rheumatica patients, but no significant changes were found for clinical or ultrasonographic features during the sixth month. Ultrasonographic findings of Giant-Cell Arteritis are not present in newly diagnosed and six months followed up Polymyalgia Rheumatica patients. Further studies are needed.

Download Full-text