Rheumatology Medical News about opthalmic complications;giant cell arteritis

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Do temporal artery duplex ultrasound findings correlate with ophthalmic complications in giant cell arteritis?
Rheumatology, 04/06/09

Schmidt WA et al. – Study reports that ophthalmic complications occurred less frequently if proximal arm vasculitis was present in pts with active giant cell arteritis (GCA). Findings of temporal artery ultrasound did not correlate with eye complications.

Methods

Aim was to investigate if temporal artery ultrasound and clinical parameters correlate with the occurrence and severity of ophthalmic complications
In 222 consecutive pts, results of temporal artery ultrasound examinations were compared with:
- the occurrence of anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (AION)
- central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO)
- branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO)
- and diplopia and amaurosis fugax

Results

Temporal artery US displayed vasculitic wall swelling (halo), stenoses and/or acute occlusions in 84%
Ophthalmic complications occurred in 29%, AION in 14%, CRAO in 3%, BRAO in 1%, amaurosis fugax in 7%, and diplopia in 4% pts
Ophthalmic complications were insignificantly more common if temporal artery US was positive as a greater no. of pts w/o arm vasculitis showed eye involvement
No. of pathological temporal artery segments, presence of stenoses or bilateral findings did not correlate with ophthalmic complications
Age ≥72 yrs at diagnosis correlated with a higher incidence of ophthalmic complications

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