Characteristics of the cohort of 326 patients with GCA.
| Characteristics | Total, n = 326 |
|---|---|
| Demographics | |
| Female | 239 (73) |
| Age, yrs | 74 (48–92) |
| Cardiovascular risk factors | |
| Tobacco use | 57 (17) |
| Hypertension | 171 (52) |
| Dyslipidemia | 103 (32) |
| Diabetes mellitus | 34 (10) |
| History of coronary disease | 24 (7) |
| History of stroke | 25 (8) |
| Clinical manifestations | |
| BMI | 25 (16–37) |
| Fever | 66 (20) |
| Cranial manifestations | 297 (91) |
| Headaches | 270 (83) |
| Scalp tenderness | 141 (43) |
| Jaw claudication | 133 (41) |
| Ophthalmic trouble | 79 (24) |
| Temporal pulse absence | 78 (24) |
| Limb claudication | 15 (5) |
| Polymyalgia rheumatica | 165 (51) |
| Laboratory tests | |
| ESR, mm | 67 (7–138) |
| CRP, mg/l | 75 (3–424) |
| Hemoglobin, g/dl | 11.5 (7.4–15.3) |
| Platelets, g/mm3 | 415 (140–785) |
| Positive histology | 206 (65) |
| Positive TAB | 203/317 (64) |
| Large-vessel involvement on imaging | 67/208 (32) |
| Treatment | |
| GC doses, mg/kg | |
| At onset | 0.75 (0.25–1.45) |
| At Month 3 | 0.34 (0.12–1.04) |
| At Month 6 | 0.18 (0.06–1) |
| At Month 12 | 0.11 (0.01–0.56) |
| Discontinuation of GC | 202 (63) |
| Duration of GC treatment, mos | 23 (6–212)* |
Values are n (%) or median (range).
↵* In 205 patients who discontinued GC. GCA: giant cell arteritis; BMI: body mass index; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP: C-reactive protein; TAB: temporal artery biopsy; GC: glucocorticoids.