The U.S. Veterans Health Administration national giant cell arteritis (GCA) database cohort: incident ophthalmic complications in biopsy-negative GCA patients.

A substantial number of TAB-negative subjects accrued an incident ICD-9/-10 code for ophthalmologic complication within a year after diagnosis, most occurring within the first month. Delaying prednisone initiation 14-28 days after GCA diagnosis in TAB-negative subjects led to a 3.5-fold higher rate of ophthalmic events occurring by 1 year. Key Points • This study provides an incidence rate of ophthalmic complication by one year in biopsy-negative subjects suspected of having GCA. • Delaying prednisone initiation 14-28 days after GCA diagnosis in TAB-negative GCA subjects led to a 3.5-fold higher rate of ophthalmic events occurring by 1 year.