Table 2.

Frequency of clinical manifestations in 236 encounters of giant cell arteritis with active disease during observation, as captured by the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score.

BVAS items (by organ system)	New/worse symptoms*	Persistent symptoms*
General (N=188)
Malaise	57	17
Myalgia	51	7
Arthralgia/arthritis	47	17
Headache	108	9
Fever (<38.5 degrees Celsius)	4	1
Fever (>38.5 degrees Celsius)	2	2
Weight loss (≥2 kilograms)	20	0
Maximum allowable score on BVAS	3	2
Median (range) BVAS for category	1 (0–3)	0 (0–2)
Cutaneous (N=2)
Ulcer	2	0
Maximum allowable score on BVAS	6	3
Median (range) BVAS for category	0 (0–4)	0 (0-0)
Mucous membranes/eyes (N=35)
Mouth ulcers	0	1
Blurred vision	24	1
Sudden vision loss	19	0
Maximum allowable score on BVAS	6	3
Median (range) total BVAS for category	0 (0–6)	0 (0–2)
Ear, Nose, and Throat (N=1)
Sinus involvement	0	1
Maximum allowable score on BVAS	6	3
Median (range) total BVAS for category	0 (0-0)	0 (0–1)
Chest (N=9)
Persistent cough	8	1
Maximum allowable score on BVAS	6	3
Median (range) total BVAS for category	0 (0–2)	0 (0–1)
Cardiovascular (N=2)
Congestive heart failure	0	2
Maximum allowable score on BVAS	6	3
Median (range) BVAS for category	0 (0-0)	0 (0–2)
Abdominal (N=1)
Severe abdominal pain	1	0
Maximum allowable score	9	4
Median (range BVAS for category)	0 (0–3)	0 (0-0)
Renal (N=0)
Maximum allowable score on BVAS	12	6
Median (range) BVAS for category	0 (0-0)	0 (0-0)
Nervous system (N=4)
Organic confusion/dementia	2	0
Stroke	1	0
Sensory peripheral neuropathy	0	1
Maximum allowable score on BVAS	9	6
Median (range) BVAS for category	0 (0–9)	0 (0–3)
Other N=85	63	22
Total
Maximum allowable score	63	33
Median (range) total BVAS	1 (0–10)	0 (0–5)

BVAS = Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS); N = total number with any clinical manifestation in that organ system

All median BVAS are scores for 236 encounters with active disease.

^*Values are number of encounters during active disease with symptoms captured by that item