Background
A Temporal Artery Biopsy (TAB) is the gold standard for diagnosing Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA). However the therapeutical implication of the outcome of a TAB is scarcely reported. The aim of this study was to analyze the therapeutic implications of TAB and to identify predicting factors for GCA other than a positive biopsy.

Materials and Methods
A retrospective review was performed including all patients who underwent a TAB, or were treated with corticosteroids for supposed temporal arteritis between January 2005 and December 2012. The database was statistically analyzed using uni- and multivariate analysis.

Results
266 patients were included, of which 256 (96.2%) underwent a TAB. Fifty-four biopsies (21.1%) were positive for GCA. Duration of symptoms (>4weeks) (OR 2.61 95%CI 1.02-6.68) ,jaw claudication (OR 4.55 95%CI 1.52-13.65), and a thickened temporal artery at palpation (OR 3.72 95%C 1.21-11.44) are independently prognostic for a positive biopsy. Change in treatment strategy was performed in 16.4% of the patients (N=42) according to the outcome of the TAB.

Conclusion
As the outcome of a TAB results in a change of therapeutical strategy in the minority of patients, the value of this invasive diagnostic procedure should be reassessed in each patient.