The clinical pictures of giant cell arteritis. Temporal arteritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, and fever of unknown origin.
In a prospective study, 68 hospitalized patients were diagnosed as having giant cell arteritis. Temporal artery biopsy was performed in all patients and showed histologic evidence of arteritis in 42 (62%). Twenty-six patients had a negative biopsy but met the clinical criteria for the diagnosis. Four different clinical pictures were recognized. Thirteen patients (19%) had symptoms of localized temporal arteritis without muscular discomfort. The polymyalgia rheumatica syndrome without signs of localized arteritis was seen in 33 patients (49%). Seventeen (25%) had symptoms of both polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis. Five patients (7%) had general symptoms only, such as fever, anorexia, and fatigue, without muscular or arteritic symptoms.
D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D005221:Fatigue; D005260:Female; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011111:Polymyalgia Rheumatica / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013699:Temporal Arteries / Q000473:pathology
D011239:Prednisolone