RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Does preoperative steroid treatment affect the histology in giant cell (cranial) arteritis?
JF Journal of Clinical Pathology
JO J Clin Pathol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists
SP 1138
OP 1140
DO 10.1136/jclinpath-2012-200870
VO 65
IS 12
A1 Danielle Bury
A1 Jacob Joseph
A1 Timothy P Dawson
YR 2012
UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/65/12/1138.abstract
AB Introduction Giant cell arteritis (GCA) has been successfully treated with steroids for many years and temporal artery biopsy (TAB) is regarded as the gold standard diagnostic test. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether steroid pretreatment abrogates histological features of GCA reducing diagnostic return, as suspected on the basis of anecdotal evidence. This impacts upon patients suspected of having GCA and the need for prompt treatment balanced with the diagnostic need for TAB. Methods A 6-year single-centre retrospective study of biopsies (2005–2011) was performed with interrogation of the medical notes for information regarding steroid use. The null hypothesis considered there was no association between steroid use and biopsy outcome. Results No significant difference was found between steroid use and biopsy outcome, with biopsies still producing positive results after weeks of steroid treatment. Conclusions TAB is still useful in the diagnosis of GCA, even after commencing steroid treatment.