Giant cell arteritis in Saudi Arabia

Purpose: To obtain information about the incidence of giant cell arteritis in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Retrospective review of all temporal artery biopsies performed at the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital from December 1982 to January 1998. Results: Seventy-two temporal artery biopsies were performed over this 15 year period, of which four were positive for giant cell arteritis. Conclusions: The incidence of GCA in Saudi Arabia is probably less than in the United States and Western Europe.