title: Facial swelling in giant cell (temporal) arteritis.
abstract: Giant cell (temporal) arteritis is a systemic vasculitis of the elderly. Facial swelling is a rare manifestation of the arteritic process. Delay in recognition of the condition can result in profound loss of vision. This report describes a biopsy-proven arteritic patient who developed anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (AION) following facial swelling. Both arteritic AION and facial swelling responded to high-dose steroid treatment. Facial swelling in giant cell (temporal) arteritis could be an indicator of risk of AION. Intravenous steroid treatment can lead to salvation of useful vision.
authors.affiliation: Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: F D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Ghanchi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weir
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dudgeon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D018917:Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D013256:Steroids
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D013256:Steroids