Increased incidence of aortic aneurism and dissection in giant cell (temporal) arteritis: a population based study

Article Abstract:

Persons with giant cell arteritis may have a greatly increased risk for developing an aneurysm in the aorta which may result in death. Giant cell (temporal) arteritis causes inflammation in large and medium-sized arteries in persons over 50. Aortic aneurysm is a dilation of the aorta caused by an adjacent blood-filled tumor. A study of 96 persons in one community who developed giant cell arteritis between 1950 and 1985 found that 11 patients had thoracic aortic aneurysms, and six of the 11 experienced sudden death from acute dissection of the thoracic aorta. Giant cell arteritis patients were 17.3 times more likely to develop thoracic aortic aneurysm and 2.4 times more likely to develop abdominal aortic aneurysm than neighbors of the same age and sex.

Risk factors, Dissecting aneurysm, Aortic dissection, Giant cell arteritis, Temporal arteritis, Aortic aneurysms, Aortic aneurysm

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Frequency of Major Complications of Aspirin, Warfarin, and Intravenous Heparin for Secondary Stroke Prevention: A Population-Based Study

Article Abstract:

Complications from the use of aspirin, warfarin or heparin in stroke patients are relatively uncommon. These drugs all prevent blood clotting. Researchers analyzed the rate of complications in 339 patients who took aspirin, 145 who took warfarin and 201 who received heparin following a first stroke. There were 20 aspirin-associated complications, 8 warfarin-associated complications and 3 heparin-associated complications. Only two patients died from the complications. The rate of heparin-associated complications was actually highest because these patients only received heparin for five days, compared to one or more years of aspirin or warfarin use.

Prevention, Stroke (Disease), Stroke, Aspirin, Heparin, Warfarin

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The use and misuse of classification and diagnostic criteria for complex diseases

Article Abstract:

Disease classification systems often perform poorly when they are used in the diagnosis of individual patients. A study of the diagnostic accuracy of the American Academy of Rheumatology classification criteria for several forms of vasculitis confirmed this. In diseases which occur infrequently, classification criteria may incorrectly identify patients who do not have the condition, known as a false-positive diagnosis. The inflammatory blood vessel diseases known as vasculitis occur with low enough frequency that the classification criteria do not perform well diagnostically.

Editorial, Standards, Evaluation, Diagnosis, Vasculitis, Nosology, American College of Rheumatology

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