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Effect of prior steroid treatment on temporal artery biopsy findings in giant cell arteritis

¹ Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne
² Department of Pathology, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Duckworth Lane, Bradford
³ Department of Pathology, Papworth Hospital, Cambridge
⁴ Department of Neurology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne

Correspondence to:
Correspondence:
Mrs Neeta Ray-Chaudhuri, Department of Ophthalmology, Claremont Wing, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK

ABSTRACT
Aim: To examine the effect of up to 6 weeks of corticosteroid treatment on the positive temporal artery biopsy rate in giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Methods: Prospective comparative clinical study of 11 patients meeting the American College of Rheumatology criteria for diagnosis of GCA. Patients underwent temporal artery biopsy within 1 week, at 2–3 weeks, or after 4 weeks of corticosteroid treatment.

Results: Overall, nine of 11 (82%) patients had positive temporal artery biopsies. Six of seven (86%) biopsies performed after 4 or more weeks of steroid treatment were positive.

Conclusion: Temporal artery biopsy is useful several weeks after institution of steroids.

Keywords: steroid treatment; temporal artery biopsy; giant cell arteritis

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