Giant cell arteritis (GCA): investigations

Temporal artery biopsy: pathology

• Features of vasculitis are seen in only 13-35% of cases
• The role of Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is uncertain

Temporal artery biopsy: predictors of a positive test

Blood vessel imaging

3D T1-weighted MRI

Inflammatory markers

Other blood tests

Other investigations

Synonym

Acronym

References

1. Dasgupta B, Borg FA, Hassan N, et al. BSR and BHPR guidelines for the management of giant cell arteritis. Rhaumatology (Oxford) 2010; 49:1594-1597.
2. Calvo-Romero JM. Giant cell arteritis. Postgrad Med J 2003; 79:511-515.
3. Hunder GG, Bloch DA, Michel BA et al. The American College of Rheumatology 1990 criteria for the classification of giant cell arteritis. Arthritis Rheum 1990; 33:1122-1128.
4. Bowling K, Rait J, Atkinson J, Srinivas G. Temporal artery biopsy in the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis: Does the end justify the means? Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2017; 20:1-5.
5. Gajree S, Borooah S, Dhillon N, Goudie C, Smith C, Aspinall P, Dhillon B. Temporal artery biopsies in south-east Scotland: a five year review. J R Coll Physicians Edinb 2017; 47:124-128.
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Related checklists

• Giant cell arteritis (GCA): clinical features
• Giant cell arteritis (GCA): differential diagnosis
• Giant cell arteritis (GCA): treatment