[Bilateral intracerebral angioplasty in a patient with stroke caused by giant cell arteritis].
BACKGROUND
Giant cell arteritis is the most frequent vasculitis and can cause stroke in about 4% of the patients. The mechanism is often hemodynamic in relation with an arterial stenosis or occlusion. Optimal treatment remains to be defined. Outcome is often poor.


METHODS
We report the case of a 78-year-old patient, with giant cell arteritis who developed neurological deterioration after the onset of the corticotherapy. Brain MRI revealed bilateral stroke caused by multiple preocclusive internal carotid stenosis. The patient was treated successfully with angioplasty and stenting.


CONCLUSIONS
Endovascular treatment could constitute an interesting alternative for patients with giant cell arteritis associated with neurological deterioration after a first episode of stroke because of hemodynamic instability or at stroke recurrence. For these patients, the usual medical treatment appears to be insufficient.
Chausson
N
N
Service de neurologie, CHU de Fort-de-France, La Meynard, 97200 Fort-de-France, Martinique, France. nicolaschausson@hotmail.com
Olindo
S
S
Signaté
A
A
Cohen-Ténoudji
P
P
Aveillan
M
M
Saint-Vil
M
M
Smadja
D
D
D000368:Aged; D017130:Angioplasty; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000601:surgery; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D015607:Stents; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures