Publications by authors named "Andrea K Hemmig"
Article Synopsis
- - This study aimed to evaluate how well PET/CT and MRI can predict relapse in patients with large-vessel giant cell arteritis (LV-GCA) after they stop treatment.
- - Researchers analyzed data from 40 patients who had their treatment stopped while in remission, comparing imaging results between those who relapsed and those who didn’t.
- - The findings indicated that imaging scores from PET/CT and MRI did not significantly differ between relapsing and non-relapsing patients, suggesting these methods may not be effective for guiding treatment decisions in LV-GCA.
We sought to investigate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters that correspond to vasculitis observed via [F]FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and ultrasound in patients with large-vessel giant cell arteritis (LV-GCA). We performed a cross-sectional analysis of patients diagnosed with LV-GCA. Patients were selected if MRI, PET/CT, and vascular ultrasound were performed at the time of LV-GCA diagnosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRecommendations for early referral of individuals with suspected polymyalgia rheumatica: an initiative from the international giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica study group.
Ann Rheum Dis
October 2024
Objective: To develop international consensus-based recommendations for early referral of individuals with suspected polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).
Methods: A task force including 29 rheumatologists/internists, 4 general practitioners, 4 patients and a healthcare professional emerged from the international giant cell arteritis and PMR study group. The task force supplied clinical questions, subsequently transformed into Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome format.
Objectives: To investigate the hypothesis that a history of PMR is associated with a more severe and damaging disease course in newly diagnosed GCA patients.
Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of GCA patients diagnosed between December 2006 and May 2021. We compared vascular ultrasound findings (presence of vasculitis and vascular stenosis) in GCA patients with and without prior PMR.
Objectives: We evaluated the feasibility of a rapid glucocorticoid tapering regimen to reduce glucocorticoid exposure in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) treated with glucocorticoids only.
Methods: Newly diagnosed patients with GCA treated with a planned 26-week glucocorticoid tapering regimen at the University Hospital Basel were included. Data on relapses, cumulative steroid doses (CSD) and therapy-related adverse effects were collected from patients' records.
Aims Of The Study: To assess current practices in diagnosing, treating, and following-up giant-cell arteritis by specialists in Switzerland and to identify the main barriers to using diagnostic tools.
Methods: We performed a national survey of specialists potentially caring for patients with giant-cell arteritis. The survey was sent by email to all members of the Swiss Societies of Rheumatology and for Allergy and Immunology.
Objectives: To explore current management practices for PMR by general practitioners (GPs) and rheumatologists including implications for clinical trial recruitment.
Methods: An English language questionnaire was constructed by a working group of rheumatologists and GPs from six countries. The questionnaire focused on: 1: Respondent characteristics; 2: Referral practices; 3: Treatment with glucocorticoids; 4: Diagnostics; 5: Comorbidities; and 6: Barriers to research.
Objectives: To characterise factors associated with permanent vision loss (PVL) and potential reasons for the therapeutic delay contributing to PVL in giant cell arteritis (GCA).
Methods: Retrospective analysis of GCA patients diagnosed at the University Hospital Basel between December 2006 and May 2021.
Results: Of 282 patients with GCA (64% females), 49 (17.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to find out how common subclinical giant cell arteritis (GCA) is in patients who have just been diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), along with the factors that might predict its occurrence.
- A systematic review analyzed 13 cohorts consisting of 566 patients, revealing that the prevalence of subclinical GCA was about 23%, increasing to 29% when using advanced imaging techniques like PET/CT.
- Key predictors of subclinical GCA included inflammatory back pain, lack of lower limb pain, female sex, elevated temperature, weight loss, and specific blood counts, but the developed prediction model showed only modest accuracy.