The epidemiology of biopsy-positive giant cell arteritis: special reference to cyclic fluctuations

Objective.The aim of this work was to study changes in the incidence of biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis (GCA) over a period of 20 yr in Göteborg, Sweden. Methods.All cases of biopsy-verified GCA between 1976 and 1995 were included in the study. The annual incidence was calculated for the whole m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Rheumatology (Oxford, England) England), 1999-12, Vol.38 (12), p.1208-1212
Main Authors: Petursdottir, V., Johansson, H., Nordborg, E., Nordborg, C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Biopsy
Epidemiology
Female
Giant cell arteritis
Giant Cell Arteritis - epidemiology
Giant Cell Arteritis - pathology
Humans
Incidence
Infections
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Periodicity
Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis
Sweden - epidemiology
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Summary:Objective.The aim of this work was to study changes in the incidence of biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis (GCA) over a period of 20 yr in Göteborg, Sweden. Methods.All cases of biopsy-verified GCA between 1976 and 1995 were included in the study. The annual incidence was calculated for the whole material, for women and men separately, and its fluctuations were tested statistically. In addition, the monthly variation during the last 9 yr could be statistically analysed for the whole material. Results.In total, 665 patients were diagnosed with biopsy-verified GCA during the 20 yr period. The average annual incidence was 22.2/100000 inhabitants over 50 yr of age (women 29.8, men 12.5). The annual incidence increased significantly with time (P
ISSN:1462-0324
1462-0332
DOI:10.1093/rheumatology/38.12.1208