The effect of clinical features and glucocorticoids on biopsy findings in giant cell arteritis

Table 2 Baseline features at time of diagnosis^a in patients with GCA with positive vs. negative biopsy

Feature	Biopsy positive (n = 141)	Biopsy negative (n = 42)	p
Age at GCA diagnosis (years)	74.3 (SD 8.8; range 49–95)	74.4 (SD 9.5; range 54–93)	0.94
Female sex	108 (77 %)	26 (62 %)	0.06
ESR mm/h; mean (SD)^b	83.1 (27.1)	72.6 (23.2)	0.03
CRP mg/l; median (IQR)^b	101 (70–145)	70 (28–119)	0.007
Time from glucocorticoid treatment to TAB, days (median; IQR)	2 (0–4)	2 (1–5)	0.62
Initial steroid dose, mg (median; IQR)^b	40 (40–60)	50 (40–60)	0.18
Symptoms of PMR at diagnosis	38 (27 %)	15 (36 %)	0.27
Visual symptoms at diagnosis	68 (48 %)	23 (55 %)	0.46
Permanent visual impairment	20 (14 %)	2 (5 %)	0.10
Current smoking^b	73 (52 %)	25 (60 %)	0.43
Ever smoking^b	103 (73 %)	32 (76 %)	0.83
Large vessel involvement during the follow-up	19 (13 %)	3 (7 %)	0.27

ESR erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP C-reactive protein, PMR polymyalgia rheumatica, SD standard deviation, IQR interquartile range
^aDefined as the day when a tentative clinical diagnosis was made and glucocorticoid treatment was started
^bAvailable data from 171 patients on ESR, 136 patients on CRP, prednisolone dose available from 177 patients, current smoking at diagnosis from 98 patients and from 135 patients on ever smoking

ISSN: 1471-2474