Giant cell arteritis: intensity of the initial systemic inflammatory response and the course of the disease.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) has a variable course. We assessed whether intensity of initial systemic inflammatory response (ISIR) can predict the course of GCA.Charts of 130 GCA patients were reviewed. ISIR intensity at presentation was determined by 5 parameters of inflammation: sedimentation rate >100 mm/h, thrombocytosis >400,000/microl, hemoglobin <11 g/dl, leukocytosis >11000/microl, and fever >37.5 degrees C. Patients were divided into 3...