Giant cell arteritis (temporal arteritis, cranial arteritis) and a case from Singapore.
Giant cell arteritis as the underlying cause of blindness in the elderly is common in the West but is not seen except on rare occasions in South East Asia. We describe an 86-year-old Chinese man from Singapore who presented with a central retinal artery occlusion. Biopsy of a prominent superficial temporal artery established the underlying cause to be giant cell arteritis which was also the eventual cause of death as the condition resulted in rupture of a dissecting aneurysm of the aorta. Giant cell arteritis should be considered in all cases of ischaemic eye disease in the elderly. The importance of early diagnosis lies in the very high incidence of second eye involvement within days or at most weeks in untreated patients. A high index of suspicion is required for diagnosis of this condition which is likely under-diagnosed in our local context.
Cullen
J F
JF
Neuro-Ophthalmology Service, Singapore National Eye Centre, 11 Third Hospital Avenue, Singapore 168751. jbarrycullen@yahoo.com
Chan
C M L
CM
Chuah
K L
KL
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000209:etiology; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000209:etiology; D001766:Blindness / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012846:Singapore
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D011239:Prednisolone