Document Detail


Giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica: are pregnancies a protective factor? A prospective, multicentre case-control study. GRACG (Groupe de Recherche sur l'Artérite à Cellules Géantes).
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  10342623     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: To assess the potential role of allo-immunization, either by former pregnancies, or by a history of blood transfusion, in the pathogenesis of giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica. METHODS: Two hundred and eighty-five incident female cases and 186 age-matched, population-based female controls were prospectively included in a multicentre case-control study. RESULTS: The number of pregnancies was significantly lower in cases than in controls (nulliparous: 21.55% vs 12.90%; > or =4 pregnancies: 16.25% vs 27.42%; Wilcoxon rank sum test: P = 0.0019) in biopsy-proven or negative temporal arteritis and, to a lesser extent, in polymyalgia rheumatica. No difference was found for history of blood transfusion. Pregnancies remained negatively associated with the disease in a multivariate analysis including cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking or a pre-existing peripheral vascular disease. CONCLUSION: Former pregnancies are not a risk factor for giant cell arteritis. Pregnancies may be protective thanks to an effect of the associated hyperoestrogenic state against alterations of the artery wall, as suggested in animal models.
Authors:
P Duhaut; L Pinède; S Demolombe-Ragué; C Dumontet; J Ninet; D Seydoux; R Loire; J Pasquier
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Multicenter Study; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Rheumatology (Oxford, England)     Volume:  38     ISSN:  1462-0324     ISO Abbreviation:  Rheumatology (Oxford)     Publication Date:  1999 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1999-06-10     Completed Date:  1999-06-10     Revised Date:  2007-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  100883501     Medline TA:  Rheumatology (Oxford)     Country:  ENGLAND    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  118-23     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, Edouard Herriot Hospital, Lyon, France.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Aged
Cardiovascular Diseases / complications
Case-Control Studies
Female
Giant Cell Arteritis / etiology*,  physiopathology
Humans
Middle Aged
Polymyalgia Rheumatica / etiology*,  physiopathology
Pregnancy*
Prospective Studies
Risk Factors
Smoking / adverse effects

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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