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Table 3 Clinical characteristics of patients with and without the event of poor treatment outcomes

From: Associated factors of poor treatment outcomes in patients with giant cell arteritis: clinical implication of large vessel lesions

 

With the eventa (n = 41)

Without the eventb (n = 78)

p

Age, years, mean ± SD

72.6 ± 8.3

73.3 ± 7.3

0.622

Female patients, %

73.2

64.1

0.317

Weight, kg, mean ± SD

49.4 ± 9.2

52.5 ± 11.1

0.128

Signs and symptoms of cranial lesions at baseline, %

65.9

83.3

0.03

 Headache, %

51.2

64.1

0.173

 Abnormal temporal artery, %

51.2

64.1

0.173

 Jaw claudication, %

36.6

32.1

0.619

 Visual disturbance, %

19.5

25.6

0.454

LVLs detected by imaging at baseline, %

78.0

46.2

0.001

 Any lesions of the aortic branchesc, %

48.8

37.2

0.222

 Any lesions of the aortad, %

53.7

30.8

0.015

 Any structural vascular damagee, %

31.7

19.2

0.127

 Stenosis of the aortic branchesc, %

12.2

15.4

0.637

 Aneurysm of the aorta, %

9.8

2.6

0.106

Fever at baseline, %

24.4

36.8

0.170

Polymyalgia rheumatica at baseline, %

43.9

41.0

0.763

CRP at baseline, mg/dl, median (interquartile range)

7.15 (3.75–11.1)

6.82 (2.99–11.2)

0.810

Ischemic heart disease at baseline, %

2.4

7.7

0.235

Cerebrovascular disease at baseline, %

17.1

11.5

0.400

Hypertension at baseline, %

39.0

44.9

0.540

Diabetes mellitus at baseline, %

19.5

17.9

0.835

Hyperlipidemia at baseline, %

22.0

29.5

0.378

Initial dose of PSL, mg/kg/day, mean ± SD

0.76 ± 0.26

0.75 ± 0.22

0.799

PSL dose at week 4, mg/kg/day, mean ± SD

0.57 ± 0.20

0.56 ± 0.16

0.652

PSL dose at week 8, mg/kg/day, mean ± SD

0.42 ± 0.16

0.41 ± 0.14

0.774

PSL dose at week 12, mg/kg/day, mean ± SD

0.36 ± 0.15

0.34 ± 0.11

0.364

Immunosuppressive drug use at baseline, %

15.0

9.0

0.245

Immunosuppressive drug use during observational period, %

75.6

28.2

< 0.001

 MTX for induction therapy, n (%)

11 (26.8)

9 (11.5)

–

 MTX for flare, %

12 (29.3)

–

–

 CY for induction therapy, %

2 (4.9)

2 (2.6)

–

 CY for flare, %

3 (7.3)

–

–

 AZA for induction therapy, %

7 (17.1)

4 (5.1)

–

 AZA for flare, %

2 (4.9)

–

–

  1. LVLs large vessel lesions, LV large vessel, ACR American College of Rheumatology, CRP C-reactive protein, PSL prednisolone, GCs glucocorticoids, MTX methotrexate, CY cyclophosphamide, AZA azathioprine
  2. aPoor treatment outcomes were defined as non-achievement of clinical remission by week 24 or relapse after the achievement of clinical remission during 52 weeks
  3. bPatients without the event of poor treatment outcomes achieved clinical remission by week 24 and no relapse during 52 weeks.
  4. cAny lesions of aortic branches by imaging included lesions in the carotid, vertebral, brachiocephalic, subclavian, axillary artery, pulmonary, renal, or iliac arteries
  5. dAny lesions of the aorta by imaging included lesions in the ascending aorta, aorta arch, descending thoracic aorta, or abdominal aorta
  6. eAny structural vascular damage included stenosis, dilatation, or aneurysm in lesions of the aortic branches and aorta