Full blood count as an ancillary test to support the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis

Abstract

We conclude that the presence of thrombocytosis and high NLR, PLR, ESR and CRP can all be used clinically to support the diagnosis of GCA prior to biopsy. Of particular note, in multivariate modelling the presence of thrombocytosis is a stronger predictor of a positive temporal artery biopsy than ESR. Therefore, careful consideration of the findings in a full blood count can be used to predict the likelihood of a positive temporal artery biopsy in patients with suspected GCA.

Thirty‐day mortality after systemic anticancer treatment as a real‐world, quality‐of‐care indicator: the Northland experience

“…difficulty communicating cessation of treatment, feeling of responsibility, prognostic uncertainties) as major contributors to this practice. 17 Encouragingly, 12 of the 57 patients in our study had their chemotherapy stopped by their oncologist due to disease progression or decline in performance status when pre-assessed for the next cycle. In two out of three cases where clear disease progression was documented, patients' insistence to continue with therapy was documented.…”

ROS-producing immature neutrophils in giant cell arteritis are linked to vascular pathologies

“…Thus, the known effect of glucocorticoids on the release of immature neutrophils in circulation ( 39 ) was very limited in this cohort. An independent study of 537 newly diagnosed GCA from Oh et al also suggested that glucocorticoids are unlikely to be a confounding factor in the observed elevated neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio in active GCA patients ( 40 ). Importantly, we detected a significant reduction of immature CD10 lo neutrophils after prolonged prednisolone treatment ( Figure 2C ), likely reflecting on the underlying disease state, rather than glucocorticoid use itself ( 41 ).…”

Diagnostic Accuracy of Symptoms, Physical Signs, and Laboratory Tests for Giant Cell Arteritis

“…14,28,37,59,61,63,64,66,68 n From 5 of the analyzed studies. 28,54,68,70,85 o Defined as greater than 20 mm/h in men and greater than 30 mm/h in women, unless other laboratory-specific reference values were reported. In 8 of 32 (25%) studies reporting the ESR, it was clearly stated the Westergren method was used.…”