TY - JOUR
T1 - Giant cell arteritis following varicella zoster vaccination
AU - Lotan, Itay
AU - Steiner, Israel
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2017/4/15
Y1 - 2017/4/15
N2 - Background Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a form of large-vessel vasculitis affecting patients older than 50 years old. Recent reports have suggested that the condition is caused by reactivation of varicella zoster virus (VZV). If that is indeed the case, a vaccine that prevents VZV reactivation should reduce the incidence of GCA. To further test that hypothesis, we assessed the incidence of GCA among patients older than 50 years of age who were vaccinated against VZV and compared it to GCA incidence in the general population. Methods Using a centralized electronic medical database of the major medical insurer in Israel, Clalit Health Services (CHS), we have calculated the incidence of newly-diagnosed GCA patients in the general population, as well as the incidence of GCA among patients previously vaccinated against VZV between 1.1 2014–31.10.2016. Results The mean incidence of newly-diagnosed GCA among non-vaccinated patients older than 50 years of age was 41.6/100,000/year, while the mean incidence of GCA among patients previously vaccinated against VZV in the same time period was 75.2/100,000/year (P = 0.07). Conclusions These findings do not support the hypothesis that GCA is due to VZV reactivation.
AB - Background Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a form of large-vessel vasculitis affecting patients older than 50 years old. Recent reports have suggested that the condition is caused by reactivation of varicella zoster virus (VZV). If that is indeed the case, a vaccine that prevents VZV reactivation should reduce the incidence of GCA. To further test that hypothesis, we assessed the incidence of GCA among patients older than 50 years of age who were vaccinated against VZV and compared it to GCA incidence in the general population. Methods Using a centralized electronic medical database of the major medical insurer in Israel, Clalit Health Services (CHS), we have calculated the incidence of newly-diagnosed GCA patients in the general population, as well as the incidence of GCA among patients previously vaccinated against VZV between 1.1 2014–31.10.2016. Results The mean incidence of newly-diagnosed GCA among non-vaccinated patients older than 50 years of age was 41.6/100,000/year, while the mean incidence of GCA among patients previously vaccinated against VZV in the same time period was 75.2/100,000/year (P = 0.07). Conclusions These findings do not support the hypothesis that GCA is due to VZV reactivation.
KW - Giant cell arteritis
KW - Vaccination
KW - Varicella zoster virus
KW - Viral reactivation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85010338954&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jns.2017.01.053
DO - 10.1016/j.jns.2017.01.053
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C2 - 28320119
AN - SCOPUS:85010338954
SN - 0022-510X
VL - 375
SP - 158
EP - 159
JO - Journal of the Neurological Sciences
JF - Journal of the Neurological Sciences
ER -