Utility of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate and C-Reactive Protein for the Diagnosis of Giant Cell Arteritis

• Published in: Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism Vol. 41; no. 6; pp. 866 - 871
• Main Authors: Kermani, Tanaz A., Schmidt, Jean, Crowson, Cynthia S., Ytterberg, Steven R., Hunder, Gene G., Matteson, Eric L., Warrington, Kenneth J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.06.2012
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Blood Sedimentation; C-reactive protein; C-Reactive Protein - metabolism; Diagnosis, Differential; erythrocyte sedimentation rate; Female; giant cell arteritis; Giant Cell Arteritis - blood; Giant Cell Arteritis - diagnosis; Giant Cell Arteritis - pathology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; polymyalgia rheumatica; Polymyalgia Rheumatica - blood; Polymyalgia Rheumatica - diagnosis; Polymyalgia Rheumatica - pathology; Rheumatology; Sensitivity and Specificity; Temporal Arteries - pathology; temporal artery biopsy; erythrocyte sedimentation rate; giant cell arteritis; C-reactive protein; temporal artery biopsy; polymyalgia rheumatica

To evaluate the utility of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) for the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA) and to determine the frequency of normal ESR and CRP at diagnosis of GCA. All patients undergoing temporal artery biopsy (TAB) between 2000 and 2008 were ident...