Beschreibung:
This monograph offers current insights into polymalgia rheumatica and giant cell arthritis. It covers the pathophysiology of these diseases plus their genetic, immunologic and endocrinologic mechanisms. It also addresses the latest in diagnosis and treatment.
This book, now in an extensively updated and expanded third edition, offers important insights into polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (GCA), providing an overview of their pathophysiology, genetics, immunology, and endocrinological mechanisms but above all presenting the state of the art in diagnosis and treatment. Both PMR and GCA are diseases of advanced age. Early diagnosis and treatment can save one of the most precious senses – vision. In this book, the role of imaging techniques is thoroughly examined, with particular attention to ultrasonography and FDG PET. All aspects of management of both diseases are discussed, including the current use of glucocorticoids, the efficacy of modern biological treatment, such as infliximab, tocilizumab, and rituximab, and the available monitoring tools. Diagnostic criteria for PMR and GCA are outlined, with discussion of differential diagnosis. Among the other topics addressed are disease classification, the histopathology of GCA, the ACR criteria for temporal arteritis, the value of temporal artery biopsy in GCA, serum cytokine profiles, chronobiology, and sine syndromes. The reader will find that the book aids in achieving early diagnosis and providing faster and more effective disease management. General readers with an interest in rheumatology, internal medicine, ophthalmology and gerontology will find this book particularly valuable.
Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis — an overview with a focus on important factors contributing to the severity of the disease.- Diagnostic criteria for PMR and GCA.- Polymyalgia Rheumatica, Temporal Arteritis and Occurrence of Malignant Tumors - sine syndromes in PMR and GCA.- GCA and Takayasu’s disease.- Vascular complications of PMR and GCA.- Coronary involvement and atherosclerosis in Giant Cell Arteritis.- T cells and their role in Polymyalgia Rheumatica.- Cytokines in Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis.- Genetic factors in Giant Cell Arteritis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica.- Chronobiology of Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis.- Endocrinologic changes in PMR and GCA.- Imaging techniques, e.g. Ultrasonography, PET/18FDG in PMR and GCA.- Histopathology of Giant Cell (temporal) Arteritis — changes in aorta.- Management of PMR and GCA.- Biologicals in the treatment of Polymyalgia Rheumatica andGiant Cell Arteritis.- Therapy of resistant forms of PMR and GCA.- Monitoring tools for PMR and GCA.
In the present monograph, we offer current insights into polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arthritis. Both diseases are typical for advanced age, and their incidences increase with aging. Both diseases are a center point of interest not only for rheu- tologists, gerontologists, ophthalmologists or neurologists, but also for general prac- tioners. Early diagnosis and rapid treatment, mainly with glucocorticoids can save one of the most precious senses-vision. Damage to other organs (heart, aorta, co- nary arteries, liver, lungs, kidneys), which are supplied by the arteries affected by ischemic syndrome in the setting of giant cell arthritis, has serious consequences as well. Late diagnosis of giant cell arthritis can have fatal consequences for affected patients. It is a matter of fact that the human population is aging. Therefore, more attention has to be paid not only to diagnosis, clinical course and treatment of rheumatic d- eases in elderly, but also to their genetic, immunologic, endocrinologic, chronobiologic mechanisms, and state-of-the-art diagnostic modalities. I am convinced that the int- disciplinary research of the diseases will allow us to diagnose and treat the rheumatic diseases even faster and more effectively in the future.
