Reversible mental symptoms in temporal arteritis.
Mental symptoms are common in temporal arteritis. Reported here is a case in which a deficit in nonverbal memory documented with psychological testing resolved after a course of steroids. Besides the global confusional states commonly seen in temporal arteritis, focal intellectual impairment may be seen. It seems possible that some patients presenting with dementia as well as focal mental signs may have temporal arteritis. The diagnosis can easily be made by performing an erythrocyte sedimentation rate and temporal artery biopsy.
D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use
D011241:Prednisone