Giant cell arteritis associated with mononeuritis multiplex and complement-activating 19S IgM rheumatoid factor.
Giant cell arteritis is a necrotizing granulomatous arteritis of large arteries, especially the aorta and its branches. Mononeuritis multiplex is a peripheral sensorimotor neuropathy usually producing foot or wrist drop, commonly associated with necrotizing arteritis of small and medium-sized arteries. Rheumatoid vasculitis is an example of the latter type of arteritis associated with high-titer 19S IgM rheumatoid factor typically occurring in patients with long-standing erosive rheumatoid arthritis. This report describes a 71-year-old man with biopsy-proved giant cell arteritis, mononeuritis (foot drop) multiplex, and high-titer complement-activating rheumatoid factor without rheumatoid arthritis. Possible pathogenic relationships are discussed.
D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid; D003167:Complement Activation; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009443:Neuritis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000276:immunology*
D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor