[Mesenteric artery involvement in giant cell arteritis: two cases and literature review].
BACKGROUND
Mesenteric involvement has been rarely reported in giant cell arteritis (GCA). Our literature search using the Medline database (1966-2008), reviewing all articles in English and French languages identified only 31 cases of mesenteric ischemia related to GCA. We report two additional cases.


METHODS
We report two men with GCA. At diagnosis of GCA-associated mesenteric involvement, patients exhibited: fever/fatigue (n=2), abdominal complaints (n=1), clinical signs of GCA (n=1). In both patients, abdominal CT-scan showed circumferential halo around the superior mesenteric artery. At systematic follow-up, CT-scan revealed improvement of mesenteric damage in both patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study indicates that CT-scan is a useful technique in diagnosis of GCA-associated mesenteric involvement. Furthermore, we suggest that CT-scan may also be helpful in both the monitoring and the medical management of GCA-related mesenteric artery involvement.
Lorthioir
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A
Département de médecine interne, CHU de Rouen, 147, avenue du Maréchal-Juin, 76031 Rouen cedex, France. isabelle.marie@chu-rouen.fr
Marie
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I
Tetart
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F
Bernet
J
J
Lévesque
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H
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001025:Aortitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D001167:Arteritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017538:Mesenteric Artery, Superior; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D013699:Temporal Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin; D011241:Prednisone