Significance of isolated vasculitis of the vasa vasorum on temporal artery biopsy.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the significance of an isolated vasculitis of vasa vasorum on temporal artery biopsy.


METHODS
A diagnostic procedure was performed with 28 patients presenting clinical and biological inflammatory process and an isolated vasculitis of vasa vasorum on temporal artery biopsies.


RESULTS
Panarteritis nodosa was diagnosed in 5 cases: polymyalgia rheumatica was evidenced in 4 cases; temporal arteritis was strongly suspected in 2 cases; various types of underlying disease were found in 12 patients; a noncharacterized systemic disease was found in 5 cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Isolated vasculitis of vasa vasorum on temporal artery is a meaningful lesion frequently indicating a systemic vasculitic disorder.
Disdier
P
P
Service de Médécine Interne, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France.
Pellissier
J F
JF
Harle
J R
JR
Figarella-Branger
D
D
Bolla
G
G
Weiller
P J
PJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D013699:Temporal Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D014651:Vasa Vasorum / Q000473:pathology*; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*