The Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Is Associated with the Development of Visual Complications in Biopsy-Proven Giant Cell Arteritis

Large Giant Cell Arteritis with Eye Involvement

“…Approximately 20% of patients with GCA have a normal ESR. CRP is invariably raised in GCA and may be helpful when the ESR is equivocal (Lopez-Diaz, 2008). This acute phase response is induced by pro-inflammatory cytokines, mainly interleukins (IL) 1, 6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha.…”

Diagnosis and Treatment of Giant Cell Arteritis (Temporal Arteritis) – Past, Current and Future Aspects

“…In rare cases, transient visual disturbances preceding permanent visual loss may alternate between the two eyes (42). The risk of developing visual disturbances has been associated with low disease activity (37,58,59), high disease activity (37,45,60), anemia (61), older age (37,38), disc swelling (37), and a history of hypertension (62). In some studies, the best predictors for the development of severe cranial ischemic events included the absence of high CRP and ESR levels at diagnosis, absence of systemic manifestations such as fever and weight loss, and a past history of ischemic heart disease (58,62).…”

Giant Cell Arteritis: Visual Loss Is Our Major Concern

“…It sounds odd because we observed high correlations among ESR, CRP, hemoglobin, and platelet count in biopsy-proven GCA cases from northwest Spain 9 . In this region, ESR levels at the time of disease diagnosis were predictors of irreversible visual loss 10 . An increased risk of visual ischemic manifestations and especially of permanent visual loss was observed in Lugo patients presenting with an ESR ranging between 70 and 100 mm/h 10 .…”

“…In this region, ESR levels at the time of disease diagnosis were predictors of irreversible visual loss 10 . An increased risk of visual ischemic manifestations and especially of permanent visual loss was observed in Lugo patients presenting with an ESR ranging between 70 and 100 mm/h 10 . In agreement with our findings, Salvarani, et al reported ESR values at diagnosis that were significantly lower in patients with biopsy-proven GCA from Reggio Emilia who had permanent visual loss 6 .…”