Human Parvovirus and giant cell arteritis: A selective arteritic impact?

Peak incidences of giant cell arteritis (GCA) following human Parvovirus ep idemics were found in 2 previous epidemiological studies. The incidence of GCA [temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica (TA + P MR)] was studied before and after a major epidermic of human Parovirus in 1 994. Clinical data from the National Patient Register showed a significant inversion of the TA/PMR ratio during a 12-month period after an HPV epidemi c. The inversion of this ratio was due to an increase in: TA. The change in the ratio was most pronounced in the regions with the epicenter of the epi demic.