title: A giant cause of stroke.
abstract: An 80 year old man presented subacutely with drowsiness and confusion. Subsequent MRI brain imaging demonstrated multiple posterior circulation infarcts. Extracranial vasculitis was suspected when his ESR was found to be high and vascular imaging showed multifocal irregular narrowing of both vertebral arteries. This was confirmed by targeted temporal artery biopsy, which showed chronic granulomatous inflammation typical of giant cell arteritis (GCA). The patient made a significant recovery following treatment with prednisolone.
authors.affiliation: Acute and Stroke Medicine Specialty Registrar, Atkinson Morley Regional Neuroscience Centre, St Georges Hospital, Blackshaw Road, Tooting, London.
authors.forename: K K Y
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Consultant Neuroradiologist, Atkinson Morley Regional Neuroscience Centre, St Georges Hospital, Blackshaw Road, Tooting, London.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Mackinnon
authors.affiliation: Consultant Neuropathologist, Atkinson Morley Regional Neuroscience Centre, St Georges Hospital, Blackshaw Road, Tooting, London.
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Bridges
authors.affiliation: Consultant Stroke Physician, Atkinson Morley Regional Neuroscience Centre, St Georges Hospital, Blackshaw Road, Tooting, London.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Cloud
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology*; D013699:Temporal Arteries / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011239:Prednisolone