1. Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis—three challenges—consequences of the vasculitis process, osteoporosis, and malignancy
- Author
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Emamifar, Amir, Hess, Søren, Gerke, Oke, Hermann, Anne Pernille, Laustrup, Helle, Hansen, Per Syrak, Thye-Rønn, Peter, Marcussen, Niels, Svendstrup, Frank, Gildberg-Mortensen, Rannveig, Bang, Jacob Christian, Farahani, Ziba Ahangarani, Chrysidis, Stavros, Toftegaard, Pia, Andreasen, Rikke Asmussen, le Greves, Sebastian, Andersen, Hanne Randi, Olsen, Rudolf Nezlo, and Hansen, Inger Marie Jensen
- Subjects
musculoskeletal diseases ,temporal artery biopsy ,Vasculitis ,Biopsy ,Denmark ,Prednisolone ,education ,Giant Cell Arteritis ,positron emission tomography/computed tomography ,fluorodeoxyglucose ,polymyalgia rheumatica ,Study Protocol Clinical Trial ,Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ,Neoplasms ,Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography ,Prevalence ,Humans ,Single-Blind Method ,Patient Selection ,vascular stiffness ,Middle Aged ,Temporal Arteries ,osteoporosis and malignancy ,Osteoporosis ,Steroids ,Radiopharmaceuticals ,Research Article - Abstract
Introduction: Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (GCA) are common inflammatory conditions. The diagnosis of PMR/GCA poses many challenges since there are no specific diagnostic tests. Recent literature emphasizes the ability of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) to assess global disease activity in inflammatory diseases. 18F-FDG PET/CT may lead to the diagnosis at an earlier stage than conventional imaging and may also assess response to therapy. With respect to the management of PMR/GCA, there are 3 significant areas of concern as follows: vasculitis process/vascular stiffness, malignancy, and osteoporosis. Methods and analysis: All patients with suspected PMR/GCR referred to the Rheumatology section of Medicine Department at Svendborg Hospital, Denmark. The 4 separate studies in the current protocol focus on: the association of clinical picture of PMR/GCA with PET findings; the validity of 18F-FDG PET/CT scan for diagnosis of PMR/GCA compared with temporal artery biopsy; the prevalence of newly diagnosed malignancies in patients with PMR/GCA, or PMR-like syndrome, with the focus on diagnostic accuracy of 18F-FDG PET/CT scan compared with conventional workup (ie, chest X-ray/abdominal ultrasound); and the impact of disease process, and also steroid treatment on bone mineral density, body composition, and vasculitis/vascular stiffness in PMR/GCA patients. Ethics and dissemination: The study has been approved by the Regional Ethics Committee of the Region of Southern Denmark (identification number: S-20160098) and Danish Data Protection Agency (J.nr 16/40522). Results of the study will be disseminated via publications in peer-reviewed journals, and presentation at national and international conferences.
- Published
- 2017