Presenting Features of Giant Cell Arteritis with Active Versus Healed Arteritis on Biopsy.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is often categorised as "active" or "healed" on temporal artery biopsy (TAB). The purpose of this study was to compare the initial clinical presentation of patients with GCA according to active versus healed arteritis on TAB. A retrospective chart review was performed for patients with biopsy-proven GCA (BP-GCA) at a single academic medical institution from a previously reported cohort.

Heat stress and heat strain among outdoor workers in El Salvador and Nicaragua.

Background: There is growing attention on occupational heat stress in Central America, as workers in this region are affected by a unique form of chronic kidney disease. Previous studies have examined wet bulb globe temperatures and estimated metabolic rates to assess heat stress, but there are limited data characterizing heat strain among these workers.

Objective: The aims were to characterize heat stress and heat strain and examine whether job task, break duration, hydration practices, and kidney function were associated with heat strain.

Baseline Characteristics and Clinical Presentation of Biopsy-Proven Giant Cell Arteritis in White Compared with Black Patients.

Background: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most prevalent systemic vasculitis in the elderly and can lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated. Most earlier studies have evaluated GCA in primarily white populations, and GCA was traditionally thought to occur at nearly negligible frequency in black populations. Our previous study showed that GCA may occur at similar rates in white and black patients, but little is known about the presentation of GCA in black patients.

Effect of Temporal Artery Biopsy Length and Laterality on Diagnostic Yield.

Background: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common vasculitis in adults and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Temporal artery biopsy (TAB) remains the gold standard for diagnosis in the United States; however, practices vary in the length of artery obtained and whether bilateral simultaneous biopsies are obtained.

Methods: Retrospective chart review of all TABs performed at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute between July 1, 2007, and September 30, 2017.