Selective up-regulation of the soluble pattern-recognition receptor pentraxin 3 and of vascular endothelial growth factor in giant cell arteritis: Relevance for recent optic nerve ischemia

In the article by Baldini et al in the March 2012 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism (pages 854–865), the following errors were detected. On page 857, the subheading “Assessment of patient protein and serum samples” should have read “Assessment of patient plasma and serum samples.” In the right panel of Figure 1C, the P value for the comparison of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) with a disease duration of <6 months versus healthy controls should have been represented by a triple asterisk (P ≤ 0.005) and the P value for patients with GCA with a disease duration of <6 months versus patients with chronic stable angina should have been represented by a double asterisk (P ≤ 0.05). On pages 860 and 861, the value shown for the mean ± SEM VEGF concentration in GCA patients with a disease duration of <6 months and no history of optic nerve ischemia was incorrect and should have read 688.15 ± 117.96 pg/ml. In Table 2, the P values in the second and third footnotes should have read P ≤ 0.001 and P ≤ 0.039, respectively. The unit of measure for C-reactive protein level was shown incorrectly throughout the article and should have read mg/dl rather than mg/liter.

We regret the errors.