Table 1.
Clinical and biological findings in the study cohort patients with GCA
| Clinical characteristics | GCA patients (Plasma study) N (%) | GCA patients (IHC study) N (%) | GCA patients (Cohort study) N (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of patients | 30 | 22 | 42 |
| General characteristics | |||
| Age in years, median (range) | 77 (60-92) | 80.7 (73-89) | 76.3 (60-92) |
| Sex, women/men | 23/7 | 14/8 | 30/12 |
| Systemic manifestations | 15 (50) | 17 (77) | 33 (78.5) |
| Fever | 9 (30) | 4 (18) | 13 (31) |
| Weight loss | 15 (50) | 12 (54.5) | 20 (47.6) |
| Cranial symptoms | 21 (70) | 14 (63.6) | 31 (73.8) |
| Headache | 21 (70) | 14 (63.6) | 31 (73.8) |
| Jaw claudication | 15 (50) | 11 (50) | 19 (45.2) |
| Scalp tenderness | 14 (46.6) | 12 (54.5) | 21 (50) |
| Abnormal temporal arteries* | 13 (43) | 7 (32) | 7 (16.6) |
| Cranial ischaemic events | 9 (30) | 8 (36) | 11(26) |
| Permanent visual loss | 1 (3) | 3 (13.6) | 2 (4.7) |
| Amaurosis fugax | 6 (20) | 8 (36) | 11 (26) |
| Stroke | 2 (6.6) | 1 (4.5) | 3 (7) |
| Polymyalgia rheumatica | 7 (23) | 7 (32) | 10 (24) |
| Biological findings | Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD |
| Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (mm/h) | 85.8+/-25 | 84+/-28 | 77.8+/-26 |
| C-reactive protein (mg/L) | 102.2+/-70.3 | 92.6+/-66 | 86.2+/-78 |
| Platelet count (x 109/L) | 476+/-157 | 484+/-162 | 448+/-150 |
| Haemoglobin (g/L) | 11.5+/-1.6 | 12.2+/-1.4 | 11.8+/-1.7 |
*Abnormal temporal arteries at physical examination (painful, swollen, indurated and/or with decreased or absent pulsation). GCA, giant cell arteritis; IHC, immunohistochemistry; SD, standard deviation.