TY - JOUR T1 - Giant Cell Arteritis and COVID-19: Similarities and Discriminators. A Systematic Literature Review JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol SP - 1053 LP - 1059 DO - 10.3899/jrheum.200766 VL - 48 IS - 7 AU - Puja Mehta AU - Sebastian E. Sattui AU - Kornelis S.M. van der Geest AU - Elisabeth Brouwer AU - Richard Conway AU - Michael S. Putman AU - Philip C. Robinson AU - Sarah L. Mackie Y1 - 2021/07/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/48/7/1053.abstract N2 - Objective. To identify shared and distinct features of giant cell arteritis (GCA) and coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) to reduce diagnostic errors that could cause delays in correct treatment.Methods. Two systematic literature reviews determined the frequency of clinical features of GCA and COVID-19 in published reports. Frequencies in each disease were summarized using medians and ranges.Results. Headache was common in GCA but was also observed in COVID-19 (GCA 66%, COVID-19 10%). Jaw claudication or visual loss (43% and 26% in GCA, respectively) generally were not reported in COVID-19. Both diseases featured fatigue (GCA 38%, COVID-19 43%) and elevated inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein [CRP] elevated in 100% of GCA, 66% of COVID-19), but platelet count was elevated in 47% of GCA but only 4% of COVID-19 cases. Cough and fever were commonly reported in COVID-19 and less frequently in GCA (cough, 63% for COVID-19 vs 12% for GCA; fever, 83% for COVID-19 vs 27% for GCA). Gastrointestinal upset was occasionally reported in COVID-19 (8%), rarely in GCA (4%). Lymphopenia was more common in COVID-19 than GCA (53% in COVID-19, 2% in GCA). Alteration of smell and taste have been described in GCA but their frequency is unclear.Conclusion. Overlapping features of GCA and COVID-19 include headache, fever, elevated CRP and cough. Jaw claudication, visual loss, platelet count and lymphocyte count may be more discriminatory. Physicians should be aware of the possibility of diagnostic confusion. We have designed a simple checklist to aid evidence-based evaluation of patients with suspected GCA. ER -