P006  The potential of colour Doppler ultrasound in reducing temporal artery biopsies in suspected giant cell arteritis

Conclusion After the routine introduction of CDUS, the percentage of patients requiring TAB has declined. Approximately one fourth patients would still require TAB as per BSR guidelines. To improve the clinical relevance of biopsies further we recommended; the routine use of GCA probability score, improve C DUS skills and arrange availability of urgent slots in clinic for CDUS. We also noticed that the number of patients referred has almost doubled. This might be due to better education and awareness at the primary and secondary care level which was done as part of the project.Disclosure A.A. Sidhu: None.A. Nandagudi: None.A. Bharadwaj: None.
Source: Rheumatology - Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research