Diagnosis of giant cell arteritis in a large urban district hospital

Abstract

20 documented). Thirty-five per cent had systemic symptoms (eight out of 20 documented). Fifty per cent without documentation of systemic symptoms and 83% without presence of polymyalgia-like symptoms documented had also not seen a rheumatologist. Using the local guidelines, seven were graded as high risk (of these, two were given a GCA diagnosis), one as low risk (not diagnosed with GCA) and 12 as 'clinically possible' (eight diagnosed with GCA). Using the literary guidelines, 14 were graded as high risk (seven diagnosed with GCA) and six as low risk. Thirteen would have been classified with GCA according to the 1990 ACR guidelines, 1 of whom seven were diagnosed with GCA. Further analysis is limited by the small sample size.