Predictive Factors for Biopsy-Negative Giant Cell Arteritis and Alternative Diagnoses in a Neuro-Ophthalmology Context

ABSTRACT

Giant cell arteritis is a challenging diagnosis for patients given the high prevalence of negative temporal artery biopsies (TAB). Despite the lack of histopathological evidence of giant cell arteritis in the TAB, patients can still have TAB-negative giant cell arteritis. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the predictors for TAB-negative giant cell arteritis and the alternative diagnosis of biopsy-negative patients without a giant cell arteritis diagnosis. A retrospective electronic database review of all TABs performed at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital from February 2015 to May 2020. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine predictive factors for a diagnosis of TAB-negative giant cell arteritis. In all cases, a clinical diagnosis of TAB-negative giant cell arteritis was determined by a neuro-ophthalmologist. Alternative diagnoses for negative TABs were identified and explored. A total of 368 TABs were analysed with 287 (78%) negative for histopathological evidence of GCA. Twenty-seven (9.4%) patients were diagnosed and treated as TAB-negative giant cell arteritis. The clinical predictors of a TAB-negative giant cell arteritis diagnosis were the presence of jaw claudication (OR 2.77, 95% CI 1.10–6.98) and CRP (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00–1.03). Alternative diagnoses included non-specific headache, non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy, retinal vessel occlusions, and ocular nerve palsies. Predictive factors for a diagnosis of TAB-negative giant cell arteritis were jaw claudication and an elevated CRP. Several alternative diagnoses can be considered for patients with a negative TAB in a neuro-ophthalmology context.

KEYWORDS:

• Giant cell arteritis
• temporal arteritis
• negative temporal artery biopsy
• biopsy-negative GCA
• alternative diagnoses
• GCA mimics

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr Ramesh Arasu for his support in the statistical analysis.

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

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Funding

The author(s) reported that there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.