Abstract

SCOLNIK, Marina; SCAGLIONI, Valeria; MAGRI, Sebastián Juan  and  BABINI, Alejandra Magdalena. Management of giant cell arteritis in Argentine: Vasculitis Study Group Survey. Rev. argent. reumatolg. [online]. 2018, vol.29, n.1, pp.11-14. ISSN 0327-4411.

Introduction: Up to now, Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) diagnosis has relied on clinical features and temporal artery biopsy. In the last few years, new diagnostic tools are available and recently new treatments have appeared. Objectives: To describe a real world scenario of current GCA management in Argentine. Methods: A short online survey was developed by members of the Argentinian Society Vasculitis Study Group and emailed to all society adherents. Results: 188 answers were obtained. Only 13.4% of treating physicians can obtain a temporal biopsy in the majority of their GCA-suspected patients, while 45% of doctors can perform a temporal Doppler ultrasound. Corticosteroids dose and treatment duration is variable. Use of other treatments besides steroids is rare. Conclusion: GCA treatment in Argentina is based on long term corticosteroids, with scarce use of other immunosuppressants. Temporal Doppler ultrasound seems to have greater availability than temporal biopsy as a diagnostic tool.

Keywords : arteritis; vasculitis; treatment.

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