Giant Cell Arteritis - Examination of the Optimal Diagnostic Pathway
Giant Cell Arteritis - Examination of the Optimal Diagnostic Pathway
Giant cell arteritis - Optimization of diagnostics
A prospective study. Investigating the use of ultrasound, temporal artery biopsy, biomarkers and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography for establishing a diagnosis of giant cell (temporal) arteritis.
Inclusion Criteria:
Clinical suspicion of giant cell arteritis
Meets the American College of Rheumatology Criteria:
Age at disease onset => 50 years New headache Temporal artery abnormality Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate >=50 mm/hour Abnomal artery biopsy
Exclusion Criteria:
Active cancer Use of steroid for more than a week (the prior 6 months)