Temporal artery biopsy and corticosteroid treatment.

• DOI: 10.1136/ard.43.3.416
• Publication Date: 2008-07-28T23:49:46Z
• Authors: M.C Allison; P.J Gallagher
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Prednisolone; Giant Cell Arteritis; Humans; Temporal Arteries; 3. Good health

Eighty-four of 132 patients with clinically genuine cranial arteritis had histological evidence of inflammation at temporal artery biopsy. The highest incidence of a positive result (82%) was in patients biopsied before corticosteroid therapy. The figure fell to 60% if corticosteroids had been given for less than a week before biopsy and 10% thereafter.