[Temporal artery biopsy may remain positive even after long-term corticosteroid treatment: report of two cases].
BACKGROUND
Temporal arteritis is the most common systemic vasculitis of the elderly. It is diagnosed with the combination of a clinico-biological syndrome and typical histologic features recognized on temporal artery biopsy (TAB). Cortisteroid therapy is quickly recommended, before the TAB is performed or before the histologic results confirm the diagnosis. It is recommended to perform TAB as soon as possible after the treatment has begun in order to avoid a presumed improvement or normalisation of the histological features.


METHODS
We report the cases of two patients, a 76-year-old woman and a 78-year-old man who had persistent clinical and histological features of temporal arteritis 5 years and one year respectively after corticosteroid therapy was initiated.


CONCLUSIONS
Histological changes in the temporal artery biopsy may persist for as long as five years in a patient receiving a corticosteroid treatment for temporal arteritis. Even when largely delayed after the beginning of the treatment, temporal artery biopsy may prove to be important in diagnosing persistent temporal arteritis.
Veyssier-Belot
C
C
Service de médecine interne, centre hospitalier de Poissy-Saint-Germain-en-Laye, site de Sant-Germain-en-Laye, 20, rue Armagis, 78100 Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France. cveyssier@chi-poissy-st-germain.fr
Zuech
P
P
Somogyi
A
A
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones