Herpes Zoster as a Risk Factor for Incident Giant Cell Arteritis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Histopathologic studies have implicated herpes zoster (HZ) as a causative organism of giant cell arteritis (GCA). The purpose of this study was to assess the epidemiologic association of HZ events with incident GCA.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study in 2 large independent US administrative data sets: Medicare 5% and Truven Health Analytics MarketScan. Eligible subjects had 12 months of continuous coverage, were >50 years old, and had no history of GCA or polymyalgia rheumatica. HZ events (complicated and uncomplicated) and GCA were identified by the presence of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes from physician visit or hospital discharge records. Antiviral therapies and vaccinations were identified

SUBMITTER: England BR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5711552 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature