title: Giant cell arteritis presenting with bilateral loss of vision and jaw pain: reminder of a potentially devastating condition.
abstract: A case of giant cell arteritis was diagnosed in a woman who presented with bilateral loss of vision that did not improve with intravenous corticosteroid therapy. Preceding her vision loss, the patient had other symptoms consistent with this diagnosis, notably significant jaw pain and arthralgias. The diverse symptoms of giant cell arteritis are discussed, along with the features that can be used to distinguish jaw pain associated with this condition from the pain of temporomandibular joint pathology. An increased awareness of giant cell arteritis should lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment and avoidance of the devastating consequences of this condition.
authors.affiliation: Vancouver General Hospital and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC. claires@interchange.ubc.ca
authors.forename: Claire A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Sheldon
authors.forename: Valerie A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Simon P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Holland
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001766:Blindness / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007571:Jaw Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008775:Methylprednisolone