Giant cell arteritis can be associated with T4-lymphocytic alveolitis.
We describe three patients with histologically proven giant cell arteritis who presented with respiratory complaints. In one patient, dry cough and dyspnoea dominated the clinical picture. In the other two patients, a diagnosis of giant cell arteritis was readily suspected by the presence of typical complaints, although both patients spontaneously mentioned a persistent cough and dyspnoea, respectively. Radiographs of the chest were normal. Lung function tests, including a carbon monoxide (CO)-diffusion capacity measurement, were always normal. Broncho-alveolar lavage fluid examination showed a normal cell count but an increased number of lymphocytes (16-61%) with a predominance of T4-lymphocytes (65.5-84.5%). We conclude that respiratory complaints and T4-lymphocytic alveolitis can be associated with giant cell arteritis.
Blockmans
D
D
Department of General Internal Medicine, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium.
Knockaert
D
D
Bobbaers
H
H
D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed