title: Low back pain as presenting manifestation of giant cell arteritis associated to abdominal aortitis.
abstract: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common vasculitis in Western countries in individuals over the age of 50. The diagnosis is relatively straightforward when typical features, such as headache, jaw claudication or other ischemic complications are present. Although atypical presentations of GCA have been described, herein we report for first time low back pain as the presenting manifestation of this vasculitis. We also emphasize the importance of considering the use of positron emission tomography (PET) in the evaluation of GCA patients presenting without "overt" cranial ischemic manifestations.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Universitary Hospital Brugmann, Brussels, Belgium. mariajose.fernandez-lopez@chu-brugmann.be
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Lopez
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wamen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Karmali
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peretz
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Gay
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bentin
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000473:pathology*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000473:pathology*; D001025:Aortitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D011239:Prednisolone; D001241:Aspirin; D008775:Methylprednisolone