Discrepancies in Temporal Artery Biopsy Positivity Rate Among White and Black Patients Suspected of Having Giant Cell Arteritis.

Objective: Our hypothesis is that biopsy-positive giant cell arteritis (GCA) is infrequent among Black patients. To evaluate this, we compared the temporal artery biopsy (TAB) positivity rates among White and Black patients.

Methods: This is a case-control study review from all patients who underwent TAB at our institution from 2012 until 2021. The main study outcome was the TAB positivity rate. The main independent variable was race/ethnicity. Clinical and demographic features of patients undergoing TAB were compared between those with positive and negative biopsies with t tests, Wilcoxon rank sum test, χ 2 test, or Fisher exact test where appropriate. A multiple logistic regression with Firth correction was performed with factors found to be significant in bivariate analysis to evaluate for independent associations with a positive biopsy.

Results: Three hundred eighty-five patients who underwent TAB for suspected GCA were included (290 White, 95 Black). Mean sedimentation rate was higher in Black patients, but otherwise, both groups had similar demographic and clinical characteristics. Positivity rate of TAB in White patients was 20.3% and 8.4% in Black patients. White race was associated with higher likelihood of TAB positivity compared with Black race (odds ratio, 3.47). Patients with positive TAB were more likely to have jaw claudication, constitutional symptoms, and higher inflammatory markers. Other factors significant in the logistic regression model included age, and inversely with decreased visual acuity.

Conclusions: Our study results support the hypothesis that there is a discrepancy in the frequency of biopsy-confirmed GCA in patients referred for TAB, with Black patients having lower rates than their White counterparts.