title: Fatal aortic dissection in a patient with giant cell arteritis: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Giant cell arteritis may lead to catastrophic, large-vessel complications from chronic vascular wall inflammation without prompt diagnosis and treatment. We describe a rare case of acute aortic dissection without preceding aneurysm secondary to histologically confirmed giant cell arteritis (GCA) in an 85-year-old female with a four-year history of polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis diagnosed per biopsy six months prior to presentation. The literature is reviewed and the clinical implications of this case are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, San Antonio Military Medical Center, San Antonio, TX 78234, USA.
authors.forename: Anjeli K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Nayar
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casciello
authors.forename: Jennifer N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Slim
authors.forename: Ahmad M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Slim