Aortic arch arteritis in the elderly. An important manifestation of giant cell arteritis.
Five elderly patients with aortic arch syndrome secondary to large-vessel vasculitis all presented with upper-extremity claudication and absence of blood pressure and pulses in the affected extremity. Diagnosis was suspected by a markedly elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate associated with constitutional symptoms and angiograms showing changes consistent with arteritis of the aortic arch vessels. Treatment with high-dose corticosteroids resulted in rapid resolution of constitutional symptoms and improved functional use of the upper extremity. Recognition of this steroid-responsive disease is essential to avoid unnecessary reconstructive surgery and to prevent catastrophic events such as aortic dissection or visual loss, which may result from the underlying disease process.
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D001015:Aortic Arch Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones