Aortic aneurysm and dissection are not associated with an increased risk for giant cell arteritis/polymyalgia rheumatica

It has recently been claimed that giant cell arteritis (GCA) is associated with a markedly increased risk of aortic aneurysm formation or rupture. In the present study, the opposite approach was taken, by looking for the inci dence of GCA and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) in patients with aortic aneur ysm, aortic dissection, or both (AA/D). The records of 315 consecutive pati ents admitted with the diagnosis of AA/D were reviewed. In addition, follow up information was obtained in 82 patients by examination in the outpatien t clinic. After careful examination and assessment of clinical and laborato ry data, it was found that none of the 82 patients who survived hospitalisa tion and were available for examination had GCA or PMR. Moreover, review of the retrospective data available from hospital records of the total consec utive 315 patients with AA/D failed to find any patient with a diagnosis of GCA/PMR. In conclusion, the present study did not find an increased preval ence of GCA/PMR among a cohort of Israeli patients with AA/D. Therefore, it is suggested that a thorough investigation aiming to diagnose GCA/PMR is n ot cost effective in most of the elderly patients presenting with AA/D.