title: Giant cell arteritis involving the lower limbs.
abstract: Giant cell arteritis is an inflammatory disease that can affect the arteries anywhere in the body. Two cases are reported in which the arteries of the lower limbs were involved. Intermittent claudication with a walking distance of only 30 m was the inaugural manifestation in both cases. A biopsy of the superficial femoral artery provided the diagnosis in the first case. Ergotamine toxicity was considered initially in the second case. Acute ischemia and gangrene requiring amputation can complicate giant cell arteritis of the lower limbs and consequently corticosteroid therapy in an effective dose should be given as soon as the diagnosis is made. The inflammatory arterial lesions improve under therapy, but irreversible fibrosis with stenosis can develop if treatment is initiated late.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Vascular Diseases Department, Saint-André Hospital, Bordeaux Teaching Hospital, France.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dupuy
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mercié
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Neau
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Longy-Boursier
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conri
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000209:etiology*; D007866:Leg; D008875:Middle Aged; D011111:Polymyalgia Rheumatica / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D011239:Prednisolone