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Self-monitoring of the resting heart rate using a fitness tracker smartwatch application leads to an early diagnosis of large vessel vasculitis
  1. Nikitas Gkikopoulos,
  2. Mathias Wenger,
  3. Oliver Distler and
  4. Mike Becker
  1. University of Zurich, University Hospital Zurich Department of Rheumatology, Zurich, Switzerland
  1. Correspondence to Dr Mike Becker; mikeoliver.becker{at}usz.ch

Abstract

Giant cell arteritis can involve both cranial and extracranial arteries. Isolated extracranial large vessel vasculitis more often manifests with non-specific constitutional symptoms, causing a diagnostic delay. We report the case of a 57-year-old Caucasian female patient presenting with persistently elevated resting heart rate, as revealed by a smartwatch healthcare application, and non-specific constitutional symptoms. Imaging revealed inflammation of the aorta, bilateral subclavian and axillary arteries, compatible with large vessel vasculitis. Treatment with glucocorticoids and tocilizumab led to a significant improvement of her symptoms and decrease in inflammatory parameters. In sum, an unexplained elevated resting heart rate may lead to an earlier diagnosis and treatment of large vessel vasculitis, especially when other manifestations are non-specific. The use of healthcare smartwatch applications may prove useful in the future and lead to an earlier referral of patients to a physician.

  • vasculitis
  • biological agents

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Footnotes

  • Contributors NG and MW treated the patient. NG wrote the case report; MW, OD and MB supervised the writing and made some major changes in manuscript after reviewing the first versions. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.