title: [Large vessel vasculitis as a cause of fever of unknown origin and increase of inflammatory markers].
abstract: In our practice, we encounter patients with fever and increase in inflammatory markers. The cause of their difficulties is often hard to discover. The investigation of such patients is described the importance of history, physical examination, laboratory tests and special examinations including imaging methods. After infectious aetiology is excluded, especially in cases of discrepancy between high C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and low procalcitonin levels, a systemic disease should be diagnosed in cooperation with rheumatologists. Positron emission tomography has proved useful for diagnosing large vessel vasculitis. The case report of a 60-year-old female is presented who had severe fatigue, neck pain, occasionally raised temperature and steadily increasing CRP levels. She was diagnosed with large vessel vasculitis. After treatment with immunosuppressive doses of corticosteroids her condition gradually improved. In the discussion, facts about diagnosis, pathophysiology and treatment of the disease are summarized.
authors.affiliation: klinika infekcního lékarství FN Ostrava, Ostrava. alena.zjevikova@fnspo.cz
authors.forename: Alena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zjevíková
authors.forename: Lubomíra
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lukácová
authors.forename: Iva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kielkowská
mesh_terms: D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein