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

Prompt diagnosis and treatment of patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) can avert morbidity, such as vision loss. In patients with suspected GCA, which clinical and laboratory features are the most useful in making the diagnosis? To answer this question, researchers conducted this meta-analysis of 68 cohort studies (>14,000 patients with suspected GCA).

Overall, 31% of patients had GCA, as determined by an appropriate reference standard (e.g., temporal artery biopsy). Findings that were associated significantly with elevated likelihood of GCA were limb claudication, jaw claudication, temporal artery thickening, pulseless temporal artery, temporal tenderness, platelet count >400×10³/µL, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) >60 mm/hour.…