Biomaterial Database

Thrombokinetics in giant cell arteritis, with special reference to corticosteroid therapy. 1979

A L Bergström, and B A Bengtsson, and L B Olsson, and B E Malmvall, and J Kutti

Duplicate platelet survival studies were carried out on 8 patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA), once before the institution of any therapy, and the second time when they were in a completely asymptomatic phase after having received corticosteroid treatment. The time interval between the studies ranged between 5 and 14 months. In the first study the mean peripheral platelet count was 486 +/- 25 X 10(9)/l and in the second 326 +/- 25 X 10(9)/l. The difference between the means was highly significant (P less than 0.001). The mean life-span of the platelets was normal in the duplicate experiments (6.7 +/- 0.3 and 7.3 +/- 0.4 days, respectively). Platelet production rate was significantly (P less than 0.001) raised in the first experiment but became normal in response to corticosteroid therapy. It is concluded that the thrombocytosis seen in GCA is reactive to the inflammation present in this disease, and it seems reasonable to assume that the reduction in the peripheral platelet count which occurs in response to corticosteroid therapy accurately reflects the clinical improvement of the patient.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D010976	Platelet Count	The number of PLATELETS per unit volume in a sample of venous BLOOD.	Blood Platelet Count,Blood Platelet Number,Platelet Number,Blood Platelet Counts,Blood Platelet Numbers,Count, Blood Platelet,Count, Platelet,Counts, Blood Platelet,Counts, Platelet,Number, Blood Platelet,Number, Platelet,Numbers, Blood Platelet,Numbers, Platelet,Platelet Count, Blood,Platelet Counts,Platelet Counts, Blood,Platelet Number, Blood,Platelet Numbers,Platelet Numbers, Blood
D011239	Prednisolone	A glucocorticoid with the general properties of the corticosteroids. It is the drug of choice for all conditions in which routine systemic corticosteroid therapy is indicated, except adrenal deficiency states.	Di-Adreson-F,Predate,Predonine,Di Adreson F,DiAdresonF
D001792	Blood Platelets	Non-nucleated disk-shaped cells formed in the megakaryocyte and found in the blood of all mammals. They are mainly involved in blood coagulation.	Platelets,Thrombocytes,Blood Platelet,Platelet,Platelet, Blood,Platelets, Blood,Thrombocyte
D002470	Cell Survival	The span of viability of a cell characterized by the capacity to perform certain functions such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, some form of responsiveness, and adaptability.	Cell Viability,Cell Viabilities,Survival, Cell,Viabilities, Cell,Viability, Cell
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368	Aged	A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available.	Elderly
D013700	Giant Cell Arteritis	A systemic autoimmune disorder that typically affects medium and large ARTERIES, usually leading to occlusive granulomatous vasculitis with transmural infiltrate containing multinucleated GIANT CELLS. The TEMPORAL ARTERY is commonly involved. This disorder appears primarily in people over the age of 50. Symptoms include FEVER; FATIGUE; HEADACHE; visual impairment; pain in the jaw and tongue; and aggravation of pain by cold temperatures. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed)	Aortic Arteritis, Giant Cell,Aortitis, Giant Cell,Arteritis, Temporal,Cranial Arteritis,Horton Disease,Horton Giant Cell Arteritis,Juvenile Temporal Arteritis,Temporal Arteritis,Arteritis, Giant Cell, Horton,Arteritis, Giant Cell, Horton's,Giant Cell Aortic Arteritis,Giant Cell Aortitis,Giant Cell Aortitis, Horton's,Giant Cell Arteritis, Horton,Horton's Disease,Horton's Giant Cell Arteritis,Aortitides, Giant Cell,Arteritides, Cranial,Arteritides, Giant Cell,Arteritides, Juvenile Temporal,Arteritides, Temporal,Arteritis, Cranial,Arteritis, Giant Cell,Arteritis, Juvenile Temporal,Cranial Arteritides,Giant Cell Aortitides,Giant Cell Arteritides,Hortons Disease,Juvenile Temporal Arteritides,Temporal Arteritides,Temporal Arteritides, Juvenile,Temporal Arteritis, Juvenile