Clinical and laboratory features of GCA patients with and without visual symptoms
| Feature | With visual symptoms | Without visual symptoms | P value | Feature | With visual symptoms | Without visual symptoms | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (N=28) | (N=55) | (N=28) | (N=55) | ||||
| Female, % | 71.4 | 69.1 | ns | Jaw claudication, % | 53.6 | 30.9 | 0.059 |
| Age (years), median (IQR) | 75.4 (72.9-79.8) | 72.2 (66.3-76.6) | ns | Dry cough, % | 7.1 | 23.6 | ns |
| Symptom duration, median (IQR) | 30 (14-79) | 30 (14-84) | ns | Clin. changed TA % | 71.4 | 54.5 | 0.016 |
| BMI, median (IQR) | 24.3 (22.4-27.3) | 25.0 (22.9-27.4) | ns | LVV (US) % | 23.1 | 34.7 | ns |
| Smokers, % | 25.0 | 45.5 | ns | ESR (mm/h), mean (SD) | 69 (19) | 85 (30) | 0.007 |
| Diabetes, % | 21.4 | 12.7 | ns | CRP (mg/l), mean (SD) | 61 (54) | 93 (64) | 0.011 |
| Arterial hypertension, % | 64.3 | 50.9 | ns | Albumin (g/l), mean (SD)) | 33 (5) | 32 (4) | ns |
| Hyperlipidemia, % | 39.3 | 30.9 | ns | Ferritin (μg/l), mean (SD) | 409 (341) | 398 (416) | ns |
| PAOD, % | 0 | 1.8 | ns | SAA (mg/l), mean (SD) | 189 (192) | 381 (385) | 0.049 |
| Low dose aspirin, % | 32.1 | 21.8 | ns | Hb (g/L), mean (SD) | 118 (14) | 115 (13) | ns |
| Atrial fibrillation, % | 25.0% | 5.5% | 0.027 | PLT (109/l), mean (SD) | 327 (167) | 405 (126) | 0.001 |
| General symptom, % | 78.6 | 69.1 | ns | aCL IgG, % | 35.7 | 46.2 | ns |
| PMR, % | 17.9 | 20.0 | ns | anti-β2 GPI IgG, % | 3.6 | 15.1 | ns |
| New headache, % | 89.3 | 65.5 | 0.034 | LA, % | 19.9 | 42.2 | ns |
Legend: BMI, body mass index; PAOD, peripheral arterial occlusive disease; PMR, polymyalgia rheumatica; TA, temporal arteries; US, ultrasonography; LVV, large vessel vasculitis; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP, C-reactive protein; SAA, serum amyloid A; Hb, hemoglobin; aCL, anticardiolipin antibody; LA, lupus anticoagulants; NS, non significant, PLT, platelet count.