Vasculitis & polymyalgia rheumatica
Prevalence, characteristics, and outcomes of patients with low baseline C-reactive protein in giant cell arteritis
Authors' conclusion
GCA patients with low CRP are not rare and present with more ocular and peripheral vascular involvement and less constitutional symptoms in our study. Elevated fibrinogen in these patients suggests active inflammation despite low CRP.
Study context
- Population
- All patients diagnosed with giant cell arteritis (GCA) at Lille University Hospital, January 2000–April 2023
- Participants
- 380 patients
- Exposure
- Baseline C-reactive protein (CRP) < 10 mg/L vs CRP ≥ 10 mg/L at GCA diagnosis
- Low CRPn = 29
- Outcome
- Prevalence of low baseline CRP (< 10 mg/L) in GCA
- Follow-up
- Diagnosis
Methodological detailssingle-centre, observational
- Single-centre
- Observational
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Prevalence of baseline CRP < 10 mg/L
Low CRP
7.6%
29
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy
P = 0.04
Limb claudication
P < 0.01
- Elevated plasma fibrinogen (> 4 g/L) in Low CRP
- 77%
Fever and ocular involvement
- Low CRP had a lower incidence of fever and a higher incidence of ocular involvement than High CRP
Relapse
- Relapse rates were equilibrated between the two groups
Original publication
Prevalence, characteristics, and outcomes of patients with low baseline C-reactive protein in giant cell arteritis. Arthritis Res Ther. Published 30 July 2025. doi:10.
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