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Query: UMLS:C0039483 (giant cell arteritis)
 3,204 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Upper limb claudication and pulselessness is an uncommon presentation of giant cell arteritis (GCA), often resulting in delayed diagnosis. We describe such a case diagnosed by angiography, in which a temporal artery biopsy showed classic GCA, despite the absence of local signs or symptoms. A review of 26 similar cases revealed that in 81% of patients where the only manifestation of GCA was upper limb findings, temporal artery biopsy yielded positive findings. Steroid therapy clinically improved 24/26 patients. These findings suggest that a consideration of temporal artery biopsy early in the investigation will hasten diagnosis and appropriate therapy.
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PMID:Giant cell arteritis presenting as limb claudication. Report and review of the literature. 185 19

The authors describe three histologically documented cases of temporal arteritis complicated by arteritis of the upper limbs confirmed by arteriography. The evolution during treatment was followed up until recovery. A review of the literature underlines the frequency of upper limb arteritis in Horton's disease. It may be the presenting feature or, more commonly, occur during the evolution of the condition. It may give rise to ischaemic symptoms and/or an arterial bruit and/or asymmetric blood pressure readings which should be looked for routinely. Doppler ultrasound may be helpful. Arteriography shows that the lesions are usually bilateral, on the subclavian and axillary arteries. Giant cell arteritis has been found on arterial biopsy. Upper limb arteritis necessitates renewed or increased steroid therapy which may be beneficial in the absence of thrombosis. These arterial lesions have also been reported in some cases of polymyalgia rheumatica. Several cases of isolated upper limb arteritis without temporal arteritis or polymyalgia rheumatica have also been described.
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PMID:[Arterial stenoses of the arms in Horton's temporal arteritis. Apropos of 3 cases. A review of the literature]. 377 40

We report 6 cases of upper limb involvement in giant cell arteritis; upper limb involvement revealed the disease in 4 cases and clinical symptoms were present in 5 (upper limb pain, Raynaud's phenomenon). Upper limb pulses were not palpable and blood pressure unmeasurable in all. Duplex ultrasonography found signs of inflammatory arteriopathy in 4 cases (hypoechogenous halo of the arterial wall and acceleration of flow velocity). Arteriography was performed in 5 cases and showed long and regular stenoses. In the last case, arteriography was not done because the duplex exploration gave an easier diagnosis. With this technique, the diagnosis of upper limb involvement, frequent in autopsy series of giant cell arteritis, might be made more often. Corticosteroid therapy is indicated and surgery should be discussed only in emergency situations.
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PMID:[Inflammatory arteriopathy of the arms in the course of Horton disease. Report of six cases]. 1019 36