Correlation between infection and the onset of the giant cell (temporal) arteritis syndrome

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Abstract
Objective. To assess for a correlation between infection and the onset of the giant cell (temporal) arteritis (GCA) syndrome.Methods. A matched case‐control study design was used. Records of 100 patients with biopsy‐proven GCA and 100 patients undergoing corrective surgery for hip fracture who did not have GCA were retrospectively reviewed. Non‐GCA patients were sex‐matched with GCA patients and were as old or older in age. The review period for GCA patients was up to 4 months before and during the occurrence of symptoms (median 2 months), and for non‐GCA patients, it was up to 7 months before hip fracture. The prevalence of infection was compared using matched‐pairs odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals.Results. Infections were 3 times more likely to occur in GCA patients than in non‐GCA patients (P < 0.05).Conclusion. A correlation between the occurrence of infection and the onset of GCA is strongly suggested. We speculate that infection may act as a trigger mechanism in the pathogenesis of this syndrome.