From: The effect of clinical features and glucocorticoids on biopsy findings in giant cell arteritis
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 smokingb | 73 (52 %) | 25 (60 %) | 0.43 |
Ever smokingb | 103 (73 %) | 32 (76 %) | 0.83 |
Large vessel involvement during the follow-up | 19 (13 %) | 3 (7 %) | 0.27 |