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Subclavian artery involvement in patients with giant cell arteritis: do we need a modified Halo Score?

Juan Molina ColladaJulia Martínez-BarrioBelén Serrano-BenaventeIsabel CastrejónJuan Carlos Nieto-GonzálezLiz Rocío Caballero MottaLaura Trives FolgueraJosé María Álvaro-Gracia
Published in: Clinical rheumatology (2021)
The inclusion of subclavian artery examination in the modified Halo Score does not improve the diagnostic accuracy of GCA. Nevertheless, it correlates better with markers of systemic inflammation in LV-GCA. Key Points • Adding the subclavian artery examination into the Southend Halo Score, as proposed in the modified Halo Score, does not improve the diagnostic accuracy of GCA. • However, the extent of vascular inflammation as quantified by the modified Halo Score correlates better with markers of systemic inflammation in the large vessel (LV) GCA subgroup of patients. • Although the diagnostic value of adding subclavian arteries to the current recommended US examination of GCA is limited, it may have a role in monitoring disease activity as it correlates with the general burden of inflammation in LV GCA. These findings need to be confirmed in additional populations and larger prospective studies.
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