Publications by authors named "Lien Moreel"
Article Synopsis
- This study aimed to assess how giant cell arteritis (GCA) presents and its outcomes for patients with and without large vessel vasculitis (LVV) while considering the severity of LVV.
- Out of 238 GCA patients analyzed, 71% had LVV, with younger ages and a higher proportion of females observed among LVV patients; those without polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) symptoms had a higher risk of relapse and a lower chance of stopping glucocorticoids compared to those with PMR symptoms.
- The findings suggest that LVV is a relapse risk factor in GCA patients without PMR symptoms, with a greater relapse risk linked to a
Objectives: To evaluate differences in presentation and outcome of giant cell arteritis (GCA) patients with and without polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) symptoms.
Methods: Consecutive patients diagnosed with GCA between 2000 and 2020 and followed for ≥12 months at the University Hospitals Leuven (Belgium), were included retrospectively.
Results: We included 398 GCA patients, of which 181 (45%) with PMR symptoms.
Article Synopsis
- * It evaluated 106 GCA patients over a maximum of 10 years, with 88 repeat PET scans showing that most scans were conducted during either relapse or remission periods.
- * Results indicated a strong association between positive PET scans at diagnosis and follow-up with the occurrence of thoracic aortic aneurysms, suggesting that ongoing vascular inflammation may play a role, although further research is needed to confirm these findings.
Article Synopsis
- Two recent studies found that 22-23% of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) patients may have subclinical vasculitis, prompting an evaluation of its prevalence and characteristics in a specific patient group.
- In a study of 337 PMR patients, 9% were found to have subclinical vasculitis, mostly involving large vessels, with these patients receiving higher doses of glucocorticoids (GC) for up to a year post-diagnosis, but no significant differences in relapse rates.
- The study concluded the need for further research to understand the outcomes of PMR patients with versus without subclinical vasculitis under similar treatment protocols.
Background: Patients with inflammation of unknown origin (IUO) and fever of unknown origin (FUO) are commonly considered a single population. Differences in underlying causes between both groups may steer the diagnostic work-up.
Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.
Background: Previous studies have shown that patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) who have vascular F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake at diagnosis are at increased risk for thoracic aortic complications.
Objective: To measure the association between vascular FDG uptake at diagnosis and the change in aortic dimensions.
Design: Prospective cohort study.
Objectives: To estimate the diagnostic accuracy of combined cranial and large vessel imaging by PET/CT, ultrasound and MRI for giant cell arteritis (GCA).
Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane and Web of Science databases were searched from inception till August 31, 2022. Studies were included if they involved patients with suspected GCA and assessed the diagnostic accuracy of combined cranial and large vessel imaging by PET/CT, ultrasound or MRI with the final clinical diagnosis as reference standard.
Objective: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) is an important imaging technique in the workup of fever of unknown origin (FUO) and inflammation of unknown origin (IUO). Studies comparing the diagnostic yield of 18F-FDG PET between both entities are lacking.
Methods: Retrospective analysis of FUO/IUO patients who underwent 18F-FDG PET between 2000 and 2019 in the University Hospitals of Leuven (Belgium).
Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate the timing of relapse, the prevalence of multiple relapses and the predictors of relapse in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA).
Methods: PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched from inception till November, 30 2021. Outcome measures include cumulative relapse rate (CRR) of first relapse at year 1, 2, and 5 after treatment initiation, CRR of second and third relapse and predictors of relapse.
Background: Several studies have shown that F-FDG PET may contribute to the diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). Previously, we developed a composite PET score called the Leuven score, which was recently adapted to the more concise Leuven/Groningen score by van der Geest et al. The aim of this study is to validate and compare the diagnostic accuracy and cut-off points of both scores in a large cohort of PMR patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this meta-analysis was to estimate the mean duration of glucocorticoid (GC) treatment in patients with giant cell arteritis. PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched from inception until November 30, 2021. The outcome measures were the proportion of patients on GCs at years 1, 2, and 5 after diagnosis and the mean GC dose (in the entire cohort and expressed in prednisone equivalents) at these time points.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPatients with adult congenital heart disease are born with structural heart defects who survived into adulthood. Occasionally, complex lesions remain undiagnosed, potentially causing substantial cardiovascular health problems at young age. Here, the case is presented of a patient with subacute heart failure 1 week postpartum, revealing the diagnosis of aortic coarctation (CoA) with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBronchiolitis is a common respiratory illness in early childhood, often leading to hospitalization and associated healthcare costs. Low flow 100% oxygen through nasal prongs is the standard therapy for infants with bronchiolitis and hypoxemia. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) or invasive ventilation is used in case of progressive respiratory failure.
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