2023-06-27 23:01:40
Editorial Medicalfacts/ Janine Budding 27 June 2023 – 22:28
Fast and painless diagnostics provide many benefits for the patient
For years ZGT has been conducting top clinical research in the field of giant cell arteritis (RCA). This care, in the ARTeriitis EXpertisecentre Twente (ARTEXT), has been officially rewarded with STZ top clinical status since June 23, 2023.
Quick and painless diagnostics RCA
Giant cell arteritis (RCA) is a rare rheumatic disease in which the large and medium-sized blood vessels become inflamed. It is important to detect the disease quickly and to provide adequate treatment. “If you don’t treat people in time, they run the risk of unpleasant complications, such as blindness. But you also don’t want to wrongly treat people with a very high dose of prednisone when they don’t appear to have RCA,” says Celina Alves, rheumatologist in ZGT. Patients who are confronted with this drastic disease can count on fast and painless diagnostics at ZGT in the fast-track outpatient clinic. Alves: “Most patients can be seen by us within 24 hours after referral.”
Ultrasound
“The diagnosis can often be made by ultrasound of the vessels. It’s painless and fast.” Previously, a biopsy of the temporal artery often had to be requested through the surgeon. The results of this were delayed, so that the patient was about one to two weeks further before a definitive diagnosis could be made. Fellow rheumatologist Lenny Geurts-van Bon adds: “Making a diagnosis using ultrasound also offers other advantages in addition to saving time. This means that no radiation is involved and the quality and resolution are high.”
Collaboration for optimal results
In recent years, there have been several studies in ZGT with new drugs for the treatment of RCA. As a result, patients in ZGT can count on rapid diagnostics and high-quality patient care. “As a top clinical center of expertise, together with the UMCG and the UT, we play a leading role in developing guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of RCA,” says Geurts-van Bon. “There is also close cooperation with the radiology/nuclear medicine department, where specific MRI and PET-CTs can be performed to diagnose RCA. Finally, in collaboration with Medlon (Unilabs) and the UMCG, research is being done into the development of giant cell arteritis.”
All these efforts have now led to various publications, the development of national guidelines and refresher courses and international partnerships.
Source: ZGT & Photo: Martin Hogeboom
Editorial Medicalfacts/ Janine Budding
I studied physiotherapy and Health Care business administration. I am also a registered independent client support worker and informal care broker. I have a lot of experience in various positions in healthcare, the social domain and the medical, pharmaceutical industry, nationally and internationally. And have broad medical knowledge of most healthcare specialties. And of the care laws from which the care is regulated and financed. Every year I attend most of the leading medical conferences in Europe and America to keep my knowledge up-to-date and to keep up with the latest developments and innovations. Currently I am doing a Masters in Applied Psychology.
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