OP4. THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF GIANT CELL ARTERITIS

Abstract

inflammatory molecules) and what has been identified from immunohistology (cytokines, metalloproteinases and gene expression profiling). Other routes for genetic analysis such as performing linkage-based approaches are not possible in these conditions due to late age at disease onset and lack of suitable pedigrees. New whole genome based screening for disease genes by association using high density single nucleotide polymorphism arrays are now available. These approaches will be discussed.