Giant cell arteritis and usefulness of a predictive calculator. / Arteritis de células gigantes y uso de calculadora de predictibilidad.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is an inflammatory disease with serious visual sequelae, in which the diagnosis with the temporal artery biopsy (TAB) is very important. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All cases of GCA were collected from 2010 to 2016 (60) in a retrospective study with temporal artery biopsy performed. The vision aspects of these patients were also analysed, along with the need / predictability of the biopsy. RESULTS: The average incidence of GCA was 34.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants/year in those older than 50 years. The mean age was 79.9 with a predilection for females (1.9 1). TAB was requested in 100% of cases, with 18.3% with positive results. The AAR criteria and / or TAB calculator could have avoided most (90%) of the biopsies. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, the mean incidence of GCA was 34.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants/year older than 50 years. The predictability calculator described by González-López is useful in this environment for decision making on the diagnosis of GCA and the indication of a TAB, in such a way that it can help to reduce the performing of biopsies only in doubtful cases.