Increment of the platelet count in temporal arteritis: response to therapy and ischemic complications.

Temporal arteritis (TA) is a vasculitis involving mainly cranial branches of the aorta that can lead to ischemic complications such as amaurosis or ischemic stroke. Increment in the platelet count has been described in the acute period of the disease. We studied retrospectively the platelet count in patients with TA, its association with ischemic complications and quantified its response to therapy. We found thrombocytosis in 44% of 34 patients with TA, with a mean reduction in the platelet count of 25.1% after therapy. We were also able to quantify the increment in the platelet count at the onset of the disease and its response to prednisone in a group of 5 patients. We did not find any relation between platelet count and ischemic complications of the disease or the result of the temporal artery biopsy. In conclusion TA is associated with an increase in the platelet count, with a 25% reduction after prednisone therapy. These two determinations are not related to ischemic complications of the disease. Copyright 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel