title: Giant cell arteritis complicated by aortic aneurysmal disease.
abstract: The mortality rate in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) is similar to the standard populations of similar age and sex. Where there is excess mortality, it may be due to aortic aneurysms, especially thoracic aortic dissection as complications of GCA disease. Aneurysms may develop years after cessation of treatment. The treating physician should be vigilant in assessing the patient with giant cell arteritis for thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms. However, the physician's medical records that are sent to the insurer's underwriting department may omit key information such as recommended studies. The underwriting department should have a strategy to quickly resolve this problem.
authors.affiliation: Amerus Life Insurance Group, 9200 Keystone Crossing, Suite 800, Indianapolis, IN 46240-4603, USA. jack.cotlar@indianapolislife.com
authors.forename: M Jack
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cotlar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology